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THE 

CHILDREN’S FAIRY-LAND 


TRANSLATED AND ADAPTED FROM 

THE FAIRY TALES OF THE COUNTESS 

D’AULNOY 

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ILLUSTRATED IN SILHOUETTE 
BY 

HARRIET MEAD OLCOTT 



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HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY 




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Copyright, 1919 
nv 

HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY 



©CI.A529781 


THE CHILDREN’S FAIRY-LAND 



■ 


TO 

EMMA McELUOY OLCOTT 











































. 













































































FOREWORD 


It is easy to understand why these fascinating 
Fairy Tales have never received the welcome they 
deserve. It is because they have been translated in 
unnecessary detail, without enthusiasm and without 
sympathy for the nature of Youth, which gilds with 
its own sunshine all that appeals to it, while it shrinks 
from every suggestion of shadow. 

In this collection of Fairy Tales whatever is out 
of date, whether in style or sentiment, has been cast 
aside to make room for whatever will contribute to 
the joyousness of the Children’s Fairy-Land. 

J. E. F, 


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CONTENTS 


PAGE 

THE HOOD OF ROSES 3 

THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS . 25 

THE GREEN SERPENT 49 

GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 65 

THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 93 

THE YELLOW DWARF 119 

THE MONKEY PRINCESS 139 


THE CHESTNUT TREE. 


161 



THE HOOD OF ROSES 


Once upon a time there was a king whose enemies 
threatened to besiege his capital city, and he said to 
his Queen: 

“My dear wife, I have ordered the Guards to con- 
duct you to a place of safety, and as soon as peace is 
declared I will go myself and bring you home.” 

“It shall be as you say,” said the Queen, “but 
something in my heart tells me to remain with you.” 

She went, however, without saying anything more, 
because she knew that by staying she should only 
add to the King’s anxieties. 

They had not gone far when the Guards were at- 
tacked by the enemy and killed, and the Queen only 
escaped by fleeing into a forest, where she wandered 
until, overcome by fright and fatigue, she sank in- 
sensible to the ground. 

When she came to herself she saw a woman by her 
side wrapped in a lion’s skin. The woman was very 
tall. Her arms were bare and her heavy black braids 
were held back by a snake tied around them like a 
ribbon. In her hand she held a great stone mallet. 

3 


4 


THE HOOD OF ROSES 



THE HOOD OF ROSES 


5 


Then the Queen thought that instead of fainting 
she must have died, and she whispered: 

“No wonder people fear to die when the Beings 
in the other world are so horrible.” 

The Giantess heard her and laughed. 

“You are alive,” said she, “but you might as well 
be dead, for I am the Fairy Lioness, and you are going 
to live with me forever.” 

“Oh, no! no! Madame Lioness,” implored the 
Queen. “Take me back to the King; he will pay 
you any ransom you choose.” 

“I am rich enough now,” answered the Lioness, 
“but I need company, and you are just what I 
want.” 

And before the Queen could reply she was caught 
up and carried a thousand feet down into the Earth 
where there was no light, except from lamps burn- 
ing blue flames reflected from a Lake of Quicksilver, 
while around the lake crouched monstrous beasts. 
The trees were leafless, and ravens and owls huddled 
upon the branches. 

The ground was covered with thistles and briars. 
Dry roots and Apples of Sodom made the only food 
of the unfortunates who fell into the clutches of the 
Fairy Lioness. 


6 THE HOOD OF ROSES 

“Build yourself a shelter,” she said to the Queen, 
“for here you are going to stay/’ 

The poor Queen made no answer, but cried as if 
her heart would break. 

“I advise you,” said the Lioness, “to stop this 

nonsense and try 
to please me, or I 
will give you some- 
thing to cry for, 
and I know well 
how to do it.” 

“What can I 
do to touch your 
heart?” asked the 
Queen, the tears 
streaming down her 
cheeks. 

She saw a raven holding a frog in its claws. l^Ve fly pies, 

said the Giantess; 

“make me one that is large and good.” 

“ But I do not see any flies,” answered the Queen. “ It 
is too dark to catch them, and if I could, I do not know 
how to make the crust. Let me do something else.” 

“You shall make the pie,” said the merciless Fairy. 
“What I wish, that I wish.” 



THE HOOD OF^ ROSES 


7 


And she went away, while! the Queen sat down to 
brood over her misery. A^slight noise made her look 
up, and she saw a raven holding a frog in its claws. 

“Poor little thing,” said the Queen; “you are in 
trouble, too, but I will save you;” and she threw a 
stone at the raven, who let the frog fall to the ground. 

“Beautiful Queen,” said the little creature, “you 
are the only kind person I have seen since I came 
to this wretched place.” 

“Person!” exclaimed the Queen, “I did not dream 
there could be another human being in such misery.” 

“All these monsters were once human beings — 
some were even kings,” said the Frog. “They were 
sent to the Lake of Quicksilver to be made better 
men, but from what I have seen of them they are 
worse than they ever were.” 

“How can putting so many bad people together 
make them better?” asked the Queen. “But tell 
me, little Frog, why have you come here?” 

“Curiosity brought me,” answered the Frog. “I 
am half Fay. My power is very great in some re- 
spects, but limited in others.” 

“But,” asked the Queen, “how could the raven 
have eaten you if you are Fay?” 

“I will explain,” said the Frog. “When I wear 


8 


THE HOOD OF ROSES 


my Hood of Roses nothing can harm me; but to- 
day I was careless and left it in the marshes. When 
I was returning to get it the raven swooped down 
upon me, but you saved my life and now I will do my 
best to help you. Why were you weeping just now?” 

“Alas! dear Frog,” sighed the Queen, “the wicked 



She whistled and hundreds of frogs trooped into the cavern. 


Fairy Lioness has ordered me to make a fly pie. I 
cannot do it and she may kill me.” 

“Leave matters to me,” said the Frog. “You shall 
have that pie in a twinkling.” 

She whistled, and hundreds of frogs trooped into the 
cavern. They clustered around her while she showered 
powdered sugar over them like rain in summer. 


THE HOOD OF ROSES 


9 


Instantly a swarm of flies flew down and settled 
upon the sugar. Such a capture of flies was never 
heard of; nor was such a pie as the Queen presented 
to the Fairy Lioness ever seen before or since! 

The Queen had no shelter, but the Frog and her 
friends built a little house, so pretty and comfortable 
that it could only have been the work of good fairies; 
but that night the beasts roared and howled and 
made such a deafening clamor that the Queen was 
frightened and ran out into the darkness. 

This was just what the monsters wished. And 
a Dragon who was once the cruel tyrant of a great 
kingdom, took possession of the bed of sweet-scented 
grasses, while the others hooted in triumph and the 
Queen lamented. 

The Frog had expected nothing better. “I will 
take care that you are not molested in your next 
house,” said she to the Queen, and she croaked. She 
always croaked when her human voice could not 
express her feelings. 

A charming rustic palace was ready that same 
night. It was beautiful outside and beautiful inside. 
The windows opened on a little garden full of sweet- 
smelling herbs and flowers, and the Queen rested like 
a bird in its nest. 


10 


THE HOOD OF ROSES 


“When the Fairy Lioness heard that the Queen no 
longer slept on the ground, she hurried to see for 
herself. 

“Some Power protects you/’ she said. “Not even 
weeds have ever grown in this place, and now here 
are flowers.” Then breaking off a rose she smelled 
it and tossed it away, saying: “This sort is good 
enough for you, but it does not suit me. I want or- 
chids. Get me a bunch or you shall be finely whipped, 
and I know how to do it.” 

The Queen shut herself up and waited for the Frog, 
who soon came hopping in. 

“Why are you sitting in the dark, dear Queen?” 
asked she. 

“It is because the Fairy Lioness demands a bouquet 
of orchids. Of course I cannot get them and she will 
beat me to death,” answered the Queen. 

“You certainly can get them,” said the Frog. 
“There is a Bat here; the only creature I have any- 
thing to do with in this wretched place. He is a good 
soul. I will lend him my Hood of Roses which I 
brought back from the marshes, and he will bring 
your orchids.” 

It was not long before the Queen had a superb 
bouquet to present to the Fairy Lioness, who was 


THE HOOD OF ROSES 


11 


so delighted that she forgot to ask where it came 
from. 

In the meantime the Queen had a lovely little 
daughter whom she named Mignonette; and Mignon- 
ette was her only comfort, although she would often 
weep over her and say: 

“Ah! if only the King, 
your father, could see 
you, what joy it would 
give him ! He believes 
me dead and he knows 
nothing about you, poor 
little dear!” 

The good Frog longed 
to comfort her, and one 

, Mignonette was her only comfort. 

day said: 

“I am going to find the King, your husband. It 
is a long way and I travel slowly, but sooner or later 
I shall reach him.” 

The Queen answered mournfully: 

“Of what use is it for him to know where we are? 
He cannot take us away.” 

“Madame,” replied the Frog, “people should al- 
ways do the best they can, and then have patience 
to wait for what may happen.” 



n 


THE HOOD OF ROSES 


“That is true,” sighed the Queen; and she wrote 
with her own blood on a bit of linen, for she had neither 
ink nor paper. This is what she wrote : 

“Believe every word that my best friend tells you.” 

As soon as the Frog received this message she started 
on her journey, but it was one year before she reached 
daylight. Then many preparations were to be made, 
for she was proud and said : 

“I have too much self-respect to appear at court 
like a common frog of the marsh.” 

So her outfit had to be of the costliest materials and 
latest fashion. But that took time, and then she again 
commenced her travels. She thought : 

“If only I had not lost my Hood of Roses I could 
be in the King’s palace this minute, but now it will 
take ten years for me to get there. Oh, my poor, poor 
Queen!” 

She had reason to pity the Queen who could never 
have lived through those dreary years if it had not 
been for Mignonette. 

Mignonette was a marvel of beauty and sweet- 
ness; even the monsters loved her. And as for the 
Fairy Lioness, Mignonette was in great favor with 
her, especially since the day when she said, coaxingly: 

“Beautiful Fairy Lioness, if you will take my mother 


THE HOOD OF ROSES 


13 


and me with you to the hunt you will see how much 
game we shall kill for you.” 

The Fairy Lioness asked nothing better, for she 
was lazy and always hungry; and afterwards she 
never went hunting without the Queen and Mig- 
nonette. All this time the Frog was traveling over 
mountain and moor, by day and by night, until she 
came to the Capital of the King. 

There she questioned all the people whom she 
met, and received always the same reply: 

“The King still grieves for the Queen. She was 
devoured by wild beasts many years ago, and since 
then he has never smiled.” 

The Frog became so excited when she heard this 
that she forgot entirely with what magnificence she 
had intended to appear at Court, and hopping through 
the Palace like any common frog, she entered the 
King’s room and jumped upon the table where he 
was writing. 

“Sir,” she said, “I bring you good news. I am 
come from your wife, and from your daughter whom 
you have never seen. They both need you, and here 
is a message written in the Queen’s own blood.” 

The King was too astonished to speak, but he seized 
the bit of linen and read it and kissed it, and read 


14 


THE HOOD OF ROSES 


it and kissed it again. Then the Frog told him every- 
thing, and ended by saying: 

“It remains now for you to rescue the Queen and 
the Princess Mignonette. Here is a ring; it will enable 
you to speak to them, and to the Fairy Lioness too, 
no matter how ferocious she may be.” 



Jumped upon the table where he was writing. 


The King departed alone, first loading the Frog 
with presents. 

“Do not be discouraged,” said she; “you will meet 
obstacles but you will overcome them all.” 

The road was tedious, and he had many adven- 
tures, and one day was resting in a wild region and 
reading over the Queen’s message, as he always did 


THE HOOD OF ROSES 


15 


when he needed courage for his journey. Suddenly 
from a forest appeared a lioness, on whose back were 
seated two huntresses armed with bows and arrows. 
They passed like the wind, but he recognized one 
to be the Queen. She had not changed in the least. 

He sprang up and followed them to the Quicksilver 
Lake, for the ring guided him, as the Frog had said 
that it would. 

The Queen had not seen him, but the Fairy Lioness 
had, and knew why he was come; and she resolved 
not to lose her prisoners if she could help it. 

She quickly shut the Queen and Mignonette in 
a crystal cage in the middle of the Quicksilver Lake, 
and said to the monsters, who all loved Mignonette: 

“You will lose your beautiful Princess if you do 
not defend her against the King who is coming to 
carry her off.” 

The monsters vowed to prevent that. Some sta- 
tioned themselves on the wall and roof, others at the 
door, while the rest lay on the lake. 

Then the Fairy Lioness transformed herself into 
a lion and waited for the King, and as soon as he ap- 
peared, she attacked him. But when he drew his 
sword and struck off one of her paws, she rolled over 
on the ground. Then he planted his foot on her throat. 


16 


THE HOOD OF ROSES 



The monsters guarding the queen and Mignonette. 


THE HOOD OF ROSES 


17 


“What are you here for?” roared she. 

“I am here to kill you,” answered the King, “if 
you do not give me back my wife and child.” 

“There they are; get them if you can,” said she, 
pointing to the lake; and she disappeared. 

The King turned and saw the Queen and Mig- 
nonette gazing at him through the crystal. The 
monsters were crowded together on the lake prepared 
for battle, and breathing out fire and smoke. 

The King stood in despair, when a great flame- 
colored Dragon called to him: 

“I sometimes want a delicate morsel to eat, and 
if you will promise to give it whenever I ask for it, 
you shall have the Queen and Mignonette in spite 
of the Fairy Lioness.” 

The King promised, and without knowing how it 
happened he found himself in his own Palace at a 
magnificently served table. 

The Queen was beside him, and Mignonette was 
sitting opposite. 

Never was such surprise and joy; everybody ran to 
welcome them. 

Mignonette was so beautiful and sweet that all 
the world was charmed, and many wooers came from 
other lands; and among them was Prince Marcel, 


18 


THE HOOD OF ROSES 


who was very handsome and who would one day 
be a great king. 

All the people agreed that he and Mignonette 
were made for each other, and both he and Mignonette 
thought so too. 

The King and Queen gladly consented to the mar- 
riage, and Prince Marcel returned home to prepare 
for the reception of his bride. 

It happened one day when the future was look- 
ing dazzlingly bright, that the Queen and Mignon- 
ette were chatting together, when the King entered. 
He seemed greatly disturbed and at first could not 
speak. 

Finally he took Mignonette in his arms and said 
to the Queen: 

“The Flame-colored Dragon of the Quicksilver 
Lake has sent a Giant to claim our Mignonette, whom 
I promised to him when he delivered us from the 
Fairy Lioness. He says she is to be eaten at a great 
banquet. And it is true; I did promise to give her,” 
moaned the King, and covered his face with his hands 
and burst into tears. 

“He shall sooner take my life!” shrieked the Queen. 
“Let him have the kingdom and everything else! 
Unnatural Father! how could you ever make such 


THE HOOD OF ROSES 


19 


a promise? Bring the Giant here; perhaps my af- 
fliction may touch him.” 

The Giant came. He had a very unpleasant way 
with him, and all he would say was: 

“I have nothing to do about it. The Dragon 
is very stubborn and greedy, and when he wants 
anything to eat, he has to have it. You must make 
the best of a bad bargain. That is all there is to it.” 

The Queen fainted and Mignonette would have done 
the same thing, but she had to care for her mother. 

The news spread abroad like wild-fire and the 
whole country was mourning, when the Giant an- 
nounced, what he had known all the time, that Mig- 
nonette might live if she would marry the Dragon’s 
nephew, who was young and handsome. He had 
not told this before because he took a wicked pleas- 
ure in making people unhappy. 

“Never will I marry the Dragon’s nephew,” said 
Mignonette. “I will sooner die.” 

“But my darling child,” cried the Queen, “surely 
you will not leave your father and me. You are all 
we have in the world.” 

“I can never break the promise which I made 
to Prince Marcel,” said Mignonette, sadly but firmly. 
“Once my word was given, it was given forever.” 


20 


THE HOOD OF ROSES 


The Queen wept, and said: 

“Perhaps this would not have happened if my 
dear Frog had been here, but where is she? Oh! 
where is she?” 

Now the good Frog was in the garden under a 
lilac bush, and tears were in her eyes as she 
thought: 

“If only I had my Hood of Roses, all would be 
well! If only I could remember where I left it! Why 
was I born without a memory?” 

She sat sorrowing and weeping, when something 
dropped at her feet as if it fell out of the sky. It 
was the Hood of Roses! She did not know whether 
she croaked or screamed, but she did know that never 
was she so glad and so astonished in all her life. And 
how did it get there? Then, as she looked up, she 
saw hovering over her head an enormous raven. 

“The Bat is dead,” said he. 

“Dead!” echoed the Frog. 

“Maybe he isn’t dead yet,” said the Raven. “You 
see when he brought back your orchids, you forgot 
to take back your Hood of Roses and he kept it, and 
that’s stealing, so he can’t die in peace until you 
send him your forgiveness. I can get back in time 
if you will make haste and send it.” 


THE HOOD OF ROSES 


21 

Of course, I send it,” said the Frog. “Don’t wait 
a second.” 

The Raven thanked her and flew away, while she 
put on the Hood of Roses and changed herself into a little 
old woman and appeared before Prince Marcel, who 
was strumming his guitar and thinking of Mignonette. 



Strumming his guitar and thinking of Mignonette. 


“Do not loiter a minute,” said she; “you are in 
danger of suffering the misfortune of your life. Mi- 
gnonette is being stolen from you. Do not wait to ask 
a question, but mount this horse. It will take you 
directly to her, and here is your armor.” 

She gave him a coat of diamond, harder than a 
rock and more flexible than velvet, and a horse with 
two heads breathing out flames and bombs; she gave 
him a sword, too. 


THE HOOD OF ROSES 


“Your horse knows the way and what to do, and 
when you see me again you may thank me,” said 
the little woman, nodding her head and smiling, as 
she disappeared. 

Now this was the day when Mignonette was being 
led away to the Dragon. The weeping King and 
Queen and a long train of sorrowing people were 
with her. 

“Go to the foot of the mountain,” said the surly 
Giant, “but no farther, for the Dragon is up there 
waiting for her.” 

A heart-rending wail went up as he spoke, but it 
suddenly ceased, for all saw another sight. 

A Prince in dazzling armor and mounted on a 
two-headed horse rode swiftly toward the Dragon. 

The Dragon rose to attack him but was met by a 
sheet of flame and a shower of bombs that burnt 
his eyes and tore his wings. 

He would have thrown himself upon the Prince, 
but the Coat of Diamond was a shield from his claws. 
And the sword did good work, for the Prince drew it 
suddenly and thrust it up to the hilt into the Dragon’s 
breast, and the scales which were like great shining 
plates of steel fell apart and lay on the ground, while 
out of the body of the Dragon stepped a stately man 



THE HOOD OF ROSES 23 

in royal robes who held out both hands to Prince 
Marcel, saying: 

“What do I not owe you who have freed me from 
the most frightful prison a king was ever shut in? 
For sixteen years I have been in the power of the 


Out of the body of the dragon stepped a stately man. 


wicked Fairy Lioness, who would have forced me to 
devour that lovely Princess. Lead me to her and I 
will explain all.” 

The Prince led him to Mignonette, but things 
were in such a ferment that nobody could listen to 
explanations, especially as a finishing touch was given 


24 


THE HOOD OF ROSES 


to the general gladness when a sound of tinkling 
bells was heard in the air and a falcon flew down, 
bringing the Frog, who wore her Hood of Roses. And 
as the Queen ran to meet her, she changed into a 
tall, beautiful woman whose bright hair gleamed 
under the Hood of Roses. 

“I am come, dear Queen,” said she, “because I 
love you, and to tell you that I shall always watch 
over Mignonette, who chose rather to die than to be 
faithless. Fidelity is rare in this age and will be rarer 
in the ages to come. She shall not any more be called 
Mignonette, but her name shall be Fidelia, and this 
evergreen myrtle shall be her emblem.” 

And the Fairy laid a garland like a crown upon 
Mignonette’s brow. 

Then the whole procession returned to the city, 
singing and dancing. And to please the Fairy the 
wedding was celebrated immediately. 

And King Marcel and Queen Fidelia lived long 
and happily. 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


Once upon a time there was a King and a Queen 
who had two little boys, and as soon as they were 
born the Queen had asked the Fairies to see them. 

“Come and tell me what shall happen to my dear 
sons,” said she, and what they said made her happy. 

Afterwards, when the Queen had a little girl, so 
pretty that to look at her was to love her, the Fairies 
hastened to see her without being invited. They 
said all sorts of sweet things, and were going away. 
Then the Queen said: 

“Do not forget your old custom, dear friends, 
but tell me what shall happen to my Rosette.” 

“We have forgotten our book of Fore-shadows, 
but we will go home and consult it,” said they. 

“Alas!” exclaimed the Queen. “Something is wrong 
and you do not wish to make me unhappy by tell- 
ing me the truth. I implore you not to conceal any- 
thing from me — tell me all.” 

The Fairies tried to excuse themselves, but the 
Queen insisted all the more, and at last they said, 

“Madame, we fear that Rosette will cause great 

25 


26 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


misfortune to her brothers. They may lose their 
lives on her account. That is all we can divine about 
this lovely little girl.” 

Then they went away, leaving the Queen so sad 

that the King was 
anxious, and asked 
what was the mat- 
ter. She answered, 
“I sat too near 
the fire, and burned 
all the flax off my 
spindle.” 

“Is that all?” 
said he, and sent 
for more flax 
than could be 
spun in a hun- 
dred years. 

But still the Queen was sad and when again the 
King asked what was the matter, she answered, 

“I was walking by the river, and let my green satin 
slipper fall into the water.” 

“Is that all?” said the King, and he sent for all 
the shoemakers in the kingdom to bring all their 
green satin slippers. 



The King asked what was the matter. 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 27 

But still the Queen was sad, and again the King 
asked, 

“What is the matter?” and she answered, 

“I was eating too fast, and I swallowed my wedding 
ring which was on my finger.” 

Then the King knew that she was deceiving him 
for he had the ring himself. 

“My dear wife,” said he, “You are not telling 
the truth. Here is your ring which I have in my 
purse.” 

The Queen blushed, for she was caught in a lie, 
and to lie is the most disgraceful thing in the world; 
besides she saw that the King was displeased, so 
there was nothing for her to do but tell him what 
the Fairies had said, and to beg him to think of some 
way by which the evil could be prevented. 

The King was even more cast down than the Queen, 
and said, 

“The only way that I can see is for us to kill the 
baby, and then things will go on as if she had never 
been born, but certainly we shall never do that.” 

Now near the city was an old hermit living in a 
tree, and ready to give advice when it was asked for, 
and the advice was always good. 

“I will go to him,” said the Queen. “The Fairies 


28 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


foretold the malady but forgot the cure.” And she 
hurried on her errand as fast as her horse could gallop. 

The hermit disliked to receive women, but as it 
was the Queen, he said, 

“You are welcome. What do you wish from me?” 

“I wish counsel,” replied the Queen, and she told 
him all her story, and then asked, “What shall we 
do with Rosette?” 

“Shut her up,” said he, “and keep her shut up. 
It is the only way to save the Princes, for being a 
girl she will surely make mischief. She will never 
lose the chance, for she cannot help it.” 

The Queen thanked him, and gave him a fine pres- 
ent, and then went back to tell the King, who imme- 
diately had a high tower built for Rosette and shut 
her in it. But for fear she should be lonesome the 
whole family went every day to visit her. Her brothers 
were devoted to her, and she grew to be the most 
beautiful and amiable young girl that ever lived. 

When she was sixteen years old the King and Queen 
both died, and the people mourned as they always do 
when Kings and Queens die. Everybody wore black, 
and the bells tolled everywhere. Afterwards the 
eldest Prince was crowned and the people shouted 
and the joy-bells rang all over the land. 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


29 


Then the two brothers said to each other, “Let 
us bring our sister out of the tower.” 

They had only to cross a garden, for the parents 
had kept their dear child near them. 

When Rosette saw her brothers she left her em- 
broidery and seized the young King’s hand. 



She saw a peacock with its splendid tail spread in the sunshine. 


“Welcome, dear brother,” said she, “You are 
now King and I am your little servant. I pray 
you take me out of this tower where I am so 
weary.” 

“That is why we are come, little sister. You shall 
live with us in the Palace,” said the young King. 

“Yes, indeed,” added his brother, “You are going 


30 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


away from this miserable place, and be sure the King 
will make a fine marriage for you.” 

Then they led Rosette out into the beautiful world. 
She flew among the flowers like a lark escaped from 
its cage, while her little dog Fretillon who was green 
like a parrot barked and frolicked beside her, as glad 
to be free as she was herself. All at once she saw a 
Peacock with its splendid tail spread in the sunshine. 
Anything so wonderful and so beautiful, she had never 
dreamed of. She could not take her eyes from it, 
she pointed to it, and asked what it was. Her brothers 
told her that it was a bird and was sometimes eaten. 

“Is it possible,” exclaimed she “that anyone dare 
kill and eat such a superb creature? I vow I will 
never marry anyone except the King of the Peacocks, 
and when I am Queen no human being shall ever 
touch a Peacock.” 

“But, little sister, where shall we find the King 
of the Peacocks?” asked the King in surprise. 

“Wherever you please, dear brother,” answered 
Rosette, “but never will I marry anyone else.” 

They led her to the Palace but were obliged to 
have the Peacock carried to her room, for she would 
not go without it. 

The whole Court was charmed by Rosette, She 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


31 


was so courteous and sweet, that each lady went home 
saying to herself, 

“The Princess is dear. She likes me better than 
anyone else.” 

This was a mistake, for Rosette really liked them all, 
and she liked one as well as another. It was her dis- 
position to like everybody and so of course every- 
body liked her. 

Meanwhile the brothers consulted how to find 
the King of the Peacocks, and when they had de- 
cided what to do they said to Rosette, 

“Since you will marry no one but the King of the 
Peacocks, we are going to find him for you. Take 
good care of the kingdom until we return.” 

Rosette thanked them and promised to govern 
well, but she said, 

“I cannot be happy without you, but I will look 
at the Peacock and teach Fretillon to dance. That 
will be a little comfort.” 

Then the Princes said, “good-bye,” and when- 
ever they went they inquired, “Where is the King 
of the Peacocks?” and always they received the same 
reply, “We do not know.” 

They traveled farther and farther. No one had 
ever traveled so far, and at last they arrived at the 


32 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


country of the Chafers. As soon as they could make 
themselves heard through the whirring of wings, 
they inquired of the Chafer who seemed the most 
intelligent, “Where is the King of the Peacocks?” 

“His kingdom is thousands of leagues from yours,” 
answered the Chafer, “and you have taken the long- 
est road.” 

“How do you know that?” asked the King. 

“Because we know all about you,” answered the 
Chafer. “Every year we spend three months in 
your gardens.” 

When the brothers heard this they were not long 
in learning the right way, and soon reached the Coun- 
try of the Peacocks. 

And it was indeed the Country of the Peacocks. 
Peacocks were everywhere — they were crowded to- 
gether on the branches of the trees — they seemed 
to cover the fields — and the frightful noise which 
they called music could have made a deaf person 
a fortunate one. 

The King said to his brother, “If the King of the 
Peacocks is a Peacock himself, how can our sister 
expect to marry him? We should be crazy to al- 
low it. 

The Prince was troubled too, and said “It is cer- 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


S3 


tainly a most unaccountable whim. How did she 
ever guess that such a being existed ?” 

But when they reached the city they found it full 
of men and women, whose clothing and ornaments 
were entirely of Peacock feathers; and all anxiety 



Peacocks were everywhere. 


about the King came to an end when they saw a 
handsome young man whose crown was made from 
soft plumage of the rare silver Peacock. He was 
driving in a car drawn by twelve Peacocks, and when 
he saw the King and the Prince he knew them to 
be strangers; besides, they had the air of being per- 
sonages of importance. 

He stopped, and motioned them to approach, re- 


34 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


ceived them very graciously, and in answer to his 
questions they said, 

“ We are come from a long distance to show you this,” 
and as they spoke they gave him the portrait of Rosette. 

He looked at it, and exclaimed, “I cannot believe 
there is such a beautiful girl on earth! I beg of you 
let me keep this, for I can never give it back,” and he 
clasped the picture with both hands. 

“She is a hundred times more beautiful than that,” 
said the King. 

“You are mocking me, for it is impossible,” de- 
clared the King of the Peacocks. 

“Sir,” said the Prince, “this is my brother who 
is a King like yourself. I am a Prince, and the por- 
trait you are holding is the likeness of our sister, 
the Princess Rosette. We are come to ask if you 
will marry her. She is as good as she is beautiful, 
and we will bestow upon her a rich dower.” 

“Yes indeed, I will marry her gladly, and I will 
love her dearly; but if she is not as beautiful as her 
picture I will have you executed, and you must re- 
main in prison until the Princess arrives.” 

Rosette’s brothers agreed to this arrangement, for 
they knew their sister was far more beautiful than 
any picture could paint her. 



THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 35 

While they were in prison, the King of the Pea- 
cocks entertained them royally, and went daily to 
visit them. 

Of course they wrote directly to Rosette, telling 
her to start without delay for the Kin g of the Pea- 


“Save every cent until the King comes home” 

cocks was waiting for her; and to be sure not to 
travel by land but by water, for that was the shorter 
way. 

When Rosette received the letter she read it over 
twenty times before she could believe it. Then she 
made ready quickly. She divided her belongings 
among her friends and confided her dear Peacock 


36 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 



She sailed away. 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


37 


to an old Court Lady who loved birds and knew how 
to care for them. 

Finally, calling the wisest man in the kingdom, 
she made him Governor, and said to him, 

“Do not spend any money. Save every cent until 
the King comes home.” 

Then taking with her a bushel of gold pieces, and 
enough gowns to last ten years and be changed four 
times a day, and carrying Fretillon, the little green 
dog, in her arms, she sailed away. Her nurse and 
her nurse’s daughter went with her, and she spent 
the hours laughing and singing. Life was all sun- 
shine and happiness. 

One day the nurse asked the boatman, 

“Are we nearing? Are we nearing the Country 
of the Peacocks?” and he answered, 

“Not yet. Not yet.” 

Another time she asked, 

“Are we nearing? Are we nearing?” and he an- 
swered, 

“Soon. Soon.” 

Again she asked, 

“Are we nearing? Are we nearing?” and he an- 
swered, 

“Yes! Yes!” 


38 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


When she heard that she sat down beside him, 
saying, “Do you wish to be rich forever?” 

“I do indeed,” answered the boatman. 

“That can easily be,” said the nurse. “When the 
Princess is asleep you must help me throw her over- 
board, and then my daughter will wear her fine clothes 
and marry the King of the Peacocks, and you shall 
be paid more money than you can spend in your 
whole lifetime.” 

The boatman was surprised, and said he was sorry 
to drown such a sweet, lovely Princess; but at last 
he consented. And that night while Rosette was 
sleeping with Fretillon curled up at her feet, the nurse 
and the boatman lifted the mattress with all its cover- 
ings, and threw it into the water. 

Rosette did not wake as it floated down the stream, 
but Fretillon began to bark, and the nurse heard 
him. 

“There is that horrid little green dog!” said she. 
“We are close to the shore? Let us hurry to land.” 

She was not mistaken. It was quite true they were 
in the Country of the Peacocks. The King had sent 
a long train of coaches to meet Rosette, but when 
the attendants saw the mock Princess step out of 
the boat they stood motionless; they could only stare. 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


39 


“What is the matter with you?” cried she. “Is 
this how you receive me? I will have you all 
hanged.” 

While she was speaking, they stared so much the 
more, and whispered among themselves, 

“She is as wicked as she is ugly! It has not paid 
our King to go to the end of the earth for her.” 

As the procession moved along, the trees were filled 
with Peacocks, who were waiting to see their new 
Queen. 

“She is the most beautiful among Princesses, just 
as the Peacock is the most beautiful among birds,” 
they said. 

But when they saw the nurse’s daughter they 
screamed their loudest, which meant, “Fie! Fie! 
how ugly she is.” 

“Kill those rascally Peacocks. I know they are 
insulting me!” cried the false Princess, while the 
rogue boatman whispered to the nurse, 

“Your daughter should have been handsomer.” 

“Is she as beautiful as her picture?” asked the 
King when he heard that Rosette was come; and 
he hurried to meet her; but when he saw the nurse’s 
daughter he almost died on the spot. He raved; 
he tore his hair; he forgot his dignity and shouted: 


40 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


“Those two villains have tried to trick me into 
marrying this gorilla. Throw her into a dungeon 
with everybody that belongs to her.” 

Now Rosette’s two brothers were saying to each 
other, “It is time for our sister to come,” when, with- 
out warning they were seized and thrown into a cell 



He almost died on the spot. 


half full of water. They were standing speechless 
from amazement and indignation, when the King 
of the Peacocks burst in like a raging tiger. 

“You are two pretty cheats,” shouted he, “pre- 
tending to be a King and a Prince, thinking to catch 
me in a trap; but you have gained nothing by it, for I 
am having the rope twisted to hang you both.” 

“King of the Peacocks,” said Rosette’s brother, 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


41 


in great wrath, “y° u had better measure your words. 
I am a King as much as you, and King of a Kingdom 
far greater than yours; and I want you to know that 
this affair will not be settled by any rope.” 

Then there was a long discussion which ended by 
the King of the Peacocks returning the prisoners 
to their old quarters and setting himself to find out 
who they really were. 

Now while these things were happening in the 
Palace, Rosette had awakened and found herself float- 
ing on the mattress with Fretillon. 

“It is the King of the Peacocks,” said she: “He 
regrets having promised to marry me, and he has 
ordered me to be drowned,” and she wept so bitterly 
that the white gulls flying overhead were sorry for 
her. 

Then she grew hungry and Fretillon was half starved. 
They were quite near the shore, the mattress rocking 
like a little canoe. 

“Bark, Fretillon, bark without stopping,” said 
Rosette, for she thought, 

“Some one may hear him.” 

Now there was close to the water a little hut, where 
a poor old man lived alone, and he heard Fretillon 
bark. Thinking that a traveler was passing, he opened 


42 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


the door to invite him to enter and rest. As soon 
as Rosette saw him she held out her arms, crying, 

“Good old man, save me or I shall perish.” 

He quickly drew the mattress to land and carried 
Rosette into the hut. He was not long in making 
a fire and giving her the best dress of his dead wife; 
and when she had put it on she looked the loveliest 
of lovely peasant maids, and Fretillon danced around 
her as if he thought so too. 

The old man knew that Rosette was a great lady, 
for her mattress was of satin, and the coverings of 
linen as fine as a cobweb. He begged her to tell him 
her story, and she wept all the time she was telling it. 

“What shall I do?” asked the old man when he 
had heard all. “You are used to fine food and I 
have only black bread and turnips. Suppose I go 
to the King of the Peacocks and tell him about you.? 
If he should see you I know he would marry you.” 

“No,” said Rosette, “he would kill me; but if 
you will give me a little basket, my dog will bring 
us something to eat.” 

The old man found a basket and the Princess tied 
it around Fretillon’s neck and whispered in his ear, 

“Go, my darling little green dog, go to the best 
kettle in the city, and bring me what is in it.” 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


43 



“Go to the best kettle in the city and bring me what is in it.” 


44 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


As no kettle could be better than the King’s ket- 
tle, Fretillon ran into the King’s kitchen, uncovered 
the kettle, put the contents in his basket and trotted 
back to the hut. 

Then Rosette patted his head, and whispered in 
his ear, 

“Go, my darling little green dog; go to the best 
pantry and bring me what is in it.” 

In a few minutes Fretillon appeared with all sorts 
of fruits and sweetmeats and creams and a bottle 
of choice wine. He was so laden that he could not 
carry anything more. 

Rosette was satisfied with very little, for she had 
the delicate appetite of a Princess, and Fretillon was 
always dainty; but the old man ate as he never ate 
before. 

When the King of the Peacocks called for lunch- 
eon no food was to be found in the kitchen or pan- 
try. The cooks were almost insane and the King 
was in a great rage and declared they must serve 
the best dinner ever prepared in the palace. 

When it grew dark Rosette patted Fretillon and 
whispered in his ear, 

“ Go, my darling little green dog, to the best kitchen 
in the city and bring me a fine roast.” 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


45 


Fretillon obeyed, and as there was no kitchen bet- 
ter than the King’s kitchen, he slipped in while the 
cooks’ backs were turned and took the roast from 
the spit. It was such a roast that it made the old 
man hungry to look at it. 

Then Rosette patted Fretillon and whispered in 
his ear, 

“Go, my darling little green dog, go to the best 
pantry and bring me the dessert,” and it was only a 
few minutes before he came back with the plum 
pudding and brandy sauce. 

Of course the King of the Peacocks was ravenously 
hungry that day, and ordered dinner to be served 
early, but there was no dinner. He was furious and 
went to bed hungry. 

The next day the same thing happened. The 
King had nothing to eat, and the whole Palace was 
in an uproar. 

At last one of the officers concealed himself in a 
corner of the kitchen and watched; but he could 
hardly believe his own eyes when he saw a little green 
dog trot in, uncover the kettle, and carry away all 
that was in it. He followed and saw where the dog 
entered and then hurried back to tell the King of 
the Peacocks where his meals were gone. 


46 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


“Arrest everybody there,” roared he. “I will hang 
those two villains this minute and these robbers 
shall hang with them — dog and all. I wish I had 
a hundred more people to hang!” 

The King of the Peacocks had really a good dis- 
position but he was starved, and when a venerable 



He saw a little green dog uncover the kettle. 


old man and a young peasant girl whom he did not 
even look at were led in by the officers, the King of 
the Peacocks was glad there was a rope ready for 
them, and the sooner it was around their necks the 
gladder he would have been. But, when the old man 
told him that he brought with him a Princess who 
said the King of the Peacocks had promised to marry 
her, but that instead of keeping his word, he had 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 


47 


ordered her to be drowned, then the King looked at 
the young peasant girl and knew who she was. 

He sprang towards her saying, “You are a hundred 
times more beautiful than your picture. You shall 
be my Queen and I will love you always.” 

But Rosette answered coldly, 

“Why did you wish to kill me?” 

“I would rather kill myself,” answered the King 
of the Peacocks, “but something is wrong,” and 
he sent for the nurse, and her daughter, and the boat- 
man. When they saw Rosette, all three fell on their 
knees and confessed what they had done. 

Then Rosette smiled on the King of the Peacocks, 
and said, 

“Where are my brothers?” 

The King of the Peacocks went for them himself 
and Rosette threw herself into their arms. After 
they had heard all the truth and the King of the 
Peacocks had made a thousand apologies, then the 
Prince, who was more talkative than his brother and 
always spoke for both, said, 

“We do not blame you at all, for certainly it ap- 
peared as if we were as bad as you thought us. So 
we will think no more of what is past, for as long 
as you love our sister, we shall love you,” 


48 


THE KING OF THE PEACOCKS 



Now Rosette had the loving nature that cannot 
cherish ill-will toward any one, and she forgave the 
nurse and her daughter and the boatman and sent 


Confessed what they had done. 

them home with their pockets full of gold pieces. 
But the old man and Fretillon lived in the Palace 
and their meals were served them four times a day. 

The King of the Peacocks and Queen Rosette 
lived happily all their lives, and both their people 
and their Peacocks were devoted to them. 


THE GREEN SERPENT 


Once upon a time there was a great Queen who had 
twin babies. According to the fashion, she invited 
the twelve fairies who were her neighbors to come 
and endow the little ones. All twelve accepted the 
invitation and the Queen was delighted. 

A sumptuous banquet was served, when, just as 
the guests were seated, there entered an old Fairy 
named Magotine. She had been traveling abroad 
and had been forgotten. She was known to be ex- 
tremely malicious, and now looked blacker than a 
thunder cloud, so that the other Fairies whispered 
to each other: 

“We must make haste to endow the babies before 
Magotine gets a chance for mischief.” 

The Queen concealed the fright which she nat- 
urally felt, and placed a chair herself, but Magotine 
refused it, saying: 

“I am quite able to eat standing,” but she was 
so small that she could not see over the top of the 
table, and that made her furious. 

To add to her rage, twelve bouquets of jewels were 

49 


50 


THE GREEN SERPENT 


brought in for the twelve Fairies and there was none 
for her. Then she began to mutter. The Queen 
begged her to accept a superb casket of diamonds 
and rubies. 

“Keep your trash for yourself, Madame,” replied 
she, “I only came here to find out if I were wanted.” 

As she spoke she struck the table with her wand 



Twelve bouquets of Jewels were brought in. 


and everything on it changed into fricasseed toads 
and lizards. 

Before the other Fairies could interfere she rushed 
to the cradle where the Princesses were lying, look- 
ing beautiful as dreams, and touching one of them 
she screamed, 

“I endow thee with perfect ugliness!” 

Before she could approach the other little sleeper the 
whole band of Fairies rushed between, and Magotine 
flew through the open window, hissing as she went. 


THE GREEN SERPENT 


51 


The poor Queen burst into tears, and the Fairies 
asked each other, “How can we console the 
Queen?” 

After they had consulted together the eldest said, 
“Cheer up, Madame! Your daughter will yet be 
happy.” 

“But will she ever be beautiful again?” sobbed 
the Queen. 

“That we cannot tell you. We can only say she 
will be happy.” 

The Queen thanked the Fairies and gave them 
costly presents, for although Fairies were rich in 
those days, they were like mortals, and were never 
known to have enough. 

The little Princesses were named Bellette and 
Laidronette. Bellette grew like a rose in bloom, 
but Laidronette became every day more hideous. 
People closed their eyes rather than look at her. 

She knew this, and said to herself, 

“If my parents permit, I will go to the Castle by 
the Sea, where I shall be mistress. I will not have 
even a mirror to remind me that I am a monster. 
There I shall be happy.” 

The King and Queen consented to the plan, for they 
loved Laidronette and were glad to gratify her. 


52 


THE GREEN SERPENT 


She went with her old nurse and a few attendants 
to the lonely castle. 

But she was not at all lonely. Music, painting and 
books were her delight. Flowers and birds were her 



A large green serpent coiled under a tree. 


friends. For the first time in her life she was per- 
fectly happy. 

One day, as she was walking through the woods, 
she was startled by the sight of a large Green Serpent 
coiled under a tree. 

He raised himself and said, 

“Laidronette, you are not the only unfortunate 


THE GREEN SERPENT 


53 


creature in the Universe! Look at me! I was born 
even handsomer than you — ” 

The Princess did not give him time to finish, but 
fled like a frightened deer. For several days she did 
not dare leave the Castle. 

At last she ventured out for a stroll on the beach. 
There she was surprised to see a gayly painted little 
boat. Its masts were cedar. Its sails were gold bro- 
cade. It seemed entirely deserted, and she could 
not resist the temptation to explore it. 

No sooner had she stepped into it, than a sudden 
gale bore it rapidly from the shore. 

The wind blew, the billows surged. She saw noth- 
ing around her but sea and sky. She thought, 

“This is a trick of the malicious Magotine!” 

Suddenly something moved quickly over the waves 
to the side of the boat. It was the Green Ser- 
pent ! 

“I can save you,” said he, “if you will accept aid 
from such as I.” 

“I would rather die!” answered Laidronette. The 
Green Serpent hissed, which is the way Serpents sigh, 
and he plunged under the water. 

“He is horrible with those green wings and jet 
black claws and that long bristling mane,” thought 


54 


THE GREEN SERPENT 


Laidronette, “but I do wonder how he can talk like 
a human being.” 

At that moment the boat was blown against a rock 
and broken into pieces. Laidronette caught at what 
seemed a part of the wreck strong enough to support 
her. It carried her to the shore where, to her horror. 



It carried her to the shore. 


she found that what she had taken for a floating spar 
was the Green Serpent. 

She was so terrified that he said, 

“If you knew me better you would not fear me,” 


THE GREEN SERPENT 


55 


and he plunged again under the waves while Laid- 
ronette fainted on the sand. 

When she came to herself, she was lying in a splendid 
apartment. She was surrounded by a crowd of little 
creatures. They looked like idols out of a Chinese 
temple. Some were pretty — others frightfully ugly. 
Some had no feet — others no arms. No two were alike. 



She was surrounded by a crowd of little creatures. 


“We are Pagods — our wives are Pagodines, and 
we are commanded to entertain you,” they said, 
all bowing at once. 

They sang and danced— then the Pagodines led 
her to her own apartment, and waited upon her and 
admired her. 

She remained in Pagodia — that was the name of 



56 


THE GREEN SERPENT 


the kingdom — and was happy, having everything 
her heart could desire, but she was always curious to 
know who it was that made her life worth living. 

She questioned the Pagods; they only answered, 
“We obey our King.” 

By degrees, she learned that the King was young 



Waited upon her and admired her. 

and handsome and very amiable. At last she said 
to the Pagodine who waited upon her, 

“I wish to see your King.” 

The Pagodine instantly left the room and Laid- 
ronette heard a melodious voice. 

“You wish to see me, Princess, but that cannot 
be yet. The wicked Magotine has condemned me 
to remain invisible for seven years. Five years are 


THE GREEN SERPENT 


57 


passed; two yet remain. If you will consent to marry 
me and will promise never to see me during these 
two years, I shall not only be restored to my own 
form but you will regain the marvelous beauty of 
which Magotine has deprived you. But, I must warn 
you, that if curiosity should ever lead you to break 
your word, I must recommence my penance, and you 
must share it with me.” 

Laidronette gladly promised to become Queen of 
Pagodia and never to see the King until the two years 
were passed. It seemed so easy! 

The marriage was celebrated with great magnificence, 
and no Queen was ever happier than Laidronette. 

She loved the King more and more, but the more 
she loved him the more she wished to see him. 

One day she was in the garden gathering roses. 
The King was speaking from the other side of the 
trellis. All at once a wild impulse to see him came 
over her. She parted the branches. She looked and 
fell to the ground shrieking in terror. It was the 
Green Serpent! 

“Cruel! cruel!” he cried, and vanished just as 
a crowd of Pagods rushed to her saying that Mag- 
otine with an army of Puppets had taken possession 
of the kingdom. 


58 


THE GREEN SERPENT 


Laidronette was in such misery that she did not 
care what happened to her. 

“I deserve it all,” she thought. 

She made no resistance when a regiment of Pup- 
pets dragged her before Magotine. 

“Here, my slave,” said the wicked Fairy. “Take 



A regiment of puppets dragged her before Magotine. 


this spindle; it is filled with spider’s web. You are 
to spin it as fine as a hair and I give you two hours 
to finish it.” 

Laidronette, weeping bitterly, sank on the floor 
of the cave, where the Puppets had thrown 
her. 

“This is all your own fault,” said a sweet voice; 


THE GREEN SERPENT 


59 


“but I am your husband’s friend, the Fairy Protect- 
ress, and for his sake I will help you.” 

Laidronette could see no one, but she heard soft 
strokes and the thread was spun and tied in a skein. 

Promptly at the end of two hours Magotine ar- 
rived. 

“Indeed you are an expert,” said she, examining 



Weeping bitterly. 


the skein. “But I will set you at real work this time. 
You shall draw water from the Ocean Spring.” 

Making Laidronette put on a pair of iron shoes 
much too small, she gave her a bushel basket and a 
pitcher with a hole in the bottom. Then pointing 
to a mountain whose summit reached above the 
clouds, she said, 

“Climb to the top of yonder little hill, and heap 


60 


THE GREEN SERPENT 


this basket with four-leaved clovers. Then go down 
into the valley, and fill this pitcher from the Ocean 
Spring. Bring everything back to me. Obey or your 
Green Serpent shall suffer.” 

Laidronette was frightened by this threat, and 
tried to walk in spite of the suffering from the iron 
shoes. 

“This is your own fault,” said the voice of the 
Fairy Protectress, and Laidronette felt herself trans- 
ported to the top of the mountain where the Fairy, 
still unseen, filled the basket in spite of the monstrous 
eagles that guarded the clover. 

Then she seated Laidronette in an ivory car drawn 
by two white canaries and said, 

“Descend the mountain. Throw your iron shoes 
at the two Giants who keep the Spring. They will 
become unconscious. Give the pitcher to the canaries 
who know the secret of making it hold the Water of 
Discretion. As soon as you have it in your hand 
bathe your face and you will become the loveliest 
Queen on earth.” 

Laidronette could not find words to thank the 
Fairy. 

She descended the mountain, and threw the iron 
shoes at the Giants, who became like statues. Then 


THE GREEN SERPENT 


61 



Threw the iron shoes at the Giants, 


62 


THE GREEN SERPENT 


the canaries easily filled the magic pitcher with the 
Water of Discretion. 

The word Discretion attracted Laidronette. 

“Perhaps if I drink I may become discreet. If 
I had only been so, I should now be in Pagodia,” 
thought she, and she quickly drank the water. After- 



She bathed her face and instantly became wonderfully beautiful. 


wards she bathed her face, and instantly became won- 
derfully beautiful. 

“I am pleased with you,” said the Fairy Protect- 
ress appearing before her; “you knew that this water 
would make you beautiful, but you have thought 
only of overcoming your fault. Hereafter you shall 


THE GREEN SERPENT 


63 


be called Queen Discreet and, you shall be as happy 
as you are beautiful.” 

As the Fairy ceased speaking, Laidronette saw a 
handsome young man standing beside her. He wore 

/ 



It was her husband the King of Pagodia. 


a hunting suit of green velvet and she heard the same 
voice that she had heard among the roses. It was 
her husband, the King of Pagodia! 

They were not at the Ocean Spring. They were 
in Pagodia, and there were no more Pagods and Pago- 


64 


THE GREEN SERPENT 


dines, but, in their own forms, the people from all 
parts of the kingdom thronged to welcome their 
King and Queen! 

“There is no end to the wonders of Fairyland,” 
the Fairy Protectress said. “In some strange way 
a little Love has crept into Magotine’s heart and 
rules it. She is become as sweet and kind, as she was 
crabbed and malicious. She has released you and 
your people from her evil spell, and all your troubles 
are ended.” 

The Fairy Protectress spoke truth, for the King 
of Pagodia and Queen Discreet reigned long; happy 
themselves, and making their subjects happy. 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


Once upon a time, there was a King and a Queen 
who had one only daughter. She was in every way 
so charming that they named her Gracieuse. 

Her mother loved her better than anything in the 
world, and every morning brought her a new silk or 
velvet dress, and every afternoon gave her a lesson 
in embroidery. 

As soon as the lesson was over, Gracieuse was 
served with dishes of sugar plums and more than 
twenty jars of sweetmeats from which she chose what 
she liked. Everybody agreed that she was the hap- 
piest Princess on earth. 

Now there had been at the King’s court a rich 
old maid named Duchess Grognon, who was fright- 
fully ugly. She was very fat and had lost one eye; 
her mouth was large and crooked, and she was a 
hunchback. 

Such people always hate those who are beautiful, 
and Grognon had left the court in a rage because 
she would not hear Gracieuse praised. 

She shut herself up in her castle, and when any- 

65 


66 GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 

one visiting her, spoke well of the Princess, she would 
scream : 

“You are not telling the truth! There is nothing 
good about her, and I have more beauty in my little 
finger than she has in her whole body.” 

After a while the Queen became ill and died, and 



Gracieuse was served with dishes of sugar plums. 


Gracieuse herself nearly died from grief at the loss 
of so dear a mother. 

It happened one day that the King had been per- 
suaded to forget his sorrow and amuse himself in 
hunting. Exhausted by the heat of noon and passing 
a castle, he entered it to rest. It was the castle of 
the Duchess Grognon. 

“I am delighted to welcome Your Majesty, ” said she. 
“Will you come to the coolest spot I can offer you?” 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


67 


She led him down to a great vaulted cellar, where 
hundreds of casks were ranged in rows. 

“Do you keep all these wines for your own use?” 
asked the King, opening his eyes in surprise. 

“Yes, indeed,” replied Grognon, “entirely for my 
own use; and they are very choice wines. I beg Your 
Majesty to try some of them.” 

She took a little hammer and struck a cask. Out 
poured millions of gold pieces. 

“I don’t understand that,” said she. She struck 
another cask, and a stream of diamonds and pearls 
covered the floor. 

“I cannot comprehend this!” said Grognon. “Some 
one must have stolen my good wine and put in these 
trifles.” 

“Trifles, Madame!” exclaimed the King, “You 
don’t call these trifles! There is treasure enough here 
to buy ten kingdoms!” 

“All these casks are filled with gold and jewels, 
and they are yours if you will marry me,” answered 
Grognon. 

“Indeed, I ask nothing better. I will marry you 
tomorrow,” said the King, who loved money above 
everything. 

“There is one other condition,” said Grognon, “I 



68 GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 

am to control your daughter as her mother did. She 
is to obey me in everything, and I am to do with 
her just as I please.” 

“I promise you that,” agreed the King, taking 


A stream of diamonds and pearls covered the floor. 

Grognon’s hand. She gave him the key and they 
left the cellar together. 

When the King returned, Gracieuse ran to meet 
him. 

“Have you taken any game, dear Father?” asked 
she. 

“I took a dove alive,” answered the King. 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


69 


Gracieuse was delighted. “Please, please, give it to 
me,” she begged. 

“To tell the truth,” said the King, “I met the 
Duchess Grognon, and have taken her for my 
wife.” 

“Do you call her a dove? She is an owl!” cried 
Gracieuse. 

“Be quiet!” answered the King angrily. “I ex- 
pect you to love her, and treat her as if she were 
your mother.” Then Gracieuse left him, weeping 
bitterly. 

Grognon in the meantime was busy adorning her- 
self. She painted her face, and dyed her red hair 
black. She put on a purple mantle lined with pink, 
and a crimson skirt trimmed with lavender ribbons, 
and declared that she would enter the city on horse- 
back. 

While awaiting the hour to meet Grognon, Gra- 
cieuse strolled sadly into a little grove, when a Page 
approached and kneeled before her. 

“Princess,” he said, “the King is expecting you.” 

She had never seen the Page before, but supposed 
that he belonged to Grognon’s train. 

“Since when have you been among the King’s 
Pages?” asked she. 



70 GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 

“I do not belong to the King,” he replied. “I 
belong to you and to no one else.” 

“You belong to me!” exclaimed Gracieuse, “I 
do not know you.” 


A page approached and kneeled down before her. 


“Ah, Princess,” replied the Page, “I have not 
dared to make myself known, but now your mis- 
fortune compels me to tell you that I love you.” 
“What!” said Gracieuse haughtily, “a Page dares 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


71 


to tell me that he loves me! That is the finishing 
touch to my disgrace.” 

“Do not be offended, lovely Princess,” replied the 
Page, “I am Percinet, a Prince well known for my 
riches and learning. There 
is no difference between 
us except, that your good- 
ness and beauty lift you 
far above me.” 

“Is it really you, hand- 
some Percinet, whom I 
have so long wished to 
know? I have heard such 
wonderful things of you 
that I shall not be afraid 
even of Grognon, if you 
are my friend!” 

They talked for a few 
minutes and Gracieuse, no 
longer sad, joined the King. 

A beautiful horse was awaiting her. It was the gift 
of Percinet, who led it by the bridle-rein. 

The horse intended for Grognon was meant to be 
the finest of all, but it made a very poor showing be- 
side that of Gracieuse. The King was too occupied 



“I am Percinet, a Prince well known 
for my riches and learning.” 


72 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


to pay attention, but the attendants had eyes only 
for the lovely Princess and her handsome Page. 

When they met Grognon, she saw the difference 
and was furious. 

“How! Is that creature to have a finer horse than 
I?” she exclaimed. “Rather than be treated in 
this fashion, I prefer to return to my Castle of Riches 
and never to be Queen.” 

The King immediately ordered Gracieuse to get 
down and give her horse to Grognon, who mounted it 
without looking at her, saying, 

“The Page must lead me as he did the Princess.” 

Percinet obeyed, but no sooner had he touched 
the bridle-rein, than the horse reared, and tossed 
Grognon like a ball into the mud. Her arm was 
broken, and she was badly bruised. 

Never was bride in such a plight; her veil was 
on one side of the road, her slippers on the other. 
It was like gathering up the pieces of a broken dish. 

When she was laid in bed she raved; she stormed. 

“It is a trick of Gracieuse,” she screamed.” She 
brought that horse on purpose to kill me. If the King 
does not give me satisfaction for this, I will go back 
to my Castle of Riches and never see him again 
all the days of my life.” 



GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


73 




Tossed Grognon like a ball into the mud. 


74 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


When the King heard that he was in danger of losing 
the treasure casks, he assured Grognon that she was 
at liberty to punish Gracieuse just as she saw fit. 

“That is as it should be,” said Grognon. “Send 
her to me this minute.” 

Gracieuse grew pale and looked around for Per- 
cinet, but he was not to be seen. Then she went 
trembling to Grognon’s room, for she knew she was 
not going to be caressed. 

As soon as she entered, the door was closed and 
four women with whips in their hands fell upon her 
like so many Furies. They beat her with all their 
might while Grognon cried from her bed, 

“Harder! Harder! Skin her alive! Do not spare 
her!” 

And at every blow she would shriek, 

“Harder! Harder! That is not hard enough!” 

It seemed as if the Princess were being flayed alive, 
but things are not always what they seem. Percinet 
had bewitched the eyes of the women, who, really, had 
nothing in their hands but large, waving plumes of 
various colors. 

When Gracieuse saw them, she thought, “It is 
Percinet who has done this! What would become 
of me but for him?” 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


75 


The women beat her until they could not raise 
their arms, and then pushed her out of the door with 
a thousand threats and insults. Percinet was waiting 
for her, and she thanked him again and again. 

“May I advise you,” said he, “to act as if you 
had been made very 
ill by Grognon’s treat- 
ment of you?” 

When Grognon heard 
that Gracieuse was ill 
she was so rejoiced 
that she got well her- 
self, in half the time 
she would otherwise 
have done, and the 
marriage was cele- 
brated with great mag- 
nificence. 

The King, knowing Came an unknown Knight, 

that Grognon loved to be praised for her beauty, 
had her portrait painted, and commanded his bravest 
knights to maintain against all the world that Queen 
Grognon was the most beautiful woman ever created. 

It was a grand tournament. Among the others 
came an unknown knight, who wore around his neck 



76 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


a portrait in a golden case. He proclaimed that 
Queen Grognon was the ugliest woman under the 
sun, and that she whose picture he wore was the 
most beautiful being in the whole universe. 

The Knight threw Grognon’s champions to the 
ground, one after the other, and then he said, 

“To console you all, and to prove that I have told 
the truth, I will show you my picture.” 

He opened the golden case and everyone recognized 
Gracieuse. Then he rode away without making 
himself known, but Gracieuse knew that it was Per- 
cinet. 

The rage of Grognon cannot be described. “I 
will have revenge for this insult! I will have revenge!” 
was all she could say. 

Now there was near the city a forest infested with 
wild beasts, and that same evening Grognon sent 
soldiers to carry Gracieuse there, and there they 
left her in spite of all her prayers for pity. When 
she was alone, she threw herself on the ground with- 
out strength to move. 

“O Percinet! Percinet! Where are you? Is it 
possible that you have abandoned me?” murmured 
she faintly. 

Suddenly the forest grew bright as day. Prom 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


77 


every tree hung chandeliers blazing with tapers, and 
looking up a broad avenue, she saw a Palace that 
shone like the sun. As she was gazing spellbound, 
Percinet stood beside her. 

“Do not fear, my Princess,” he said, “Come with 
me to the Queen, my mother, and to my sisters who 
love you already, from what I have told them of 
you.” 

Gracieuse could not refuse, and Percinet’s ivory 
car drawn by fawns, soon reached the Fairy Palace, 
where the Queen and her two daughters received 
her with open arms. 

A delicious feast was served, and Gracieuse ate, 
glad to have met Percinet, instead of lions and 
tigers. 

Afterwards the Queen herself led her to her room. 

In the morning her attendants were pretty young 
girls, who brought gowns, jewels, ribbons, laces. 
Nothing was lacking. Gracieuse had never been so 
well dressed, and never had looked so beautiful. 

But when she saw Percinet she confessed that 
she had not slept all the night. 

“I am happy to be here,” she said, “but I cannot 
help thinking of my miseries, and fearing to suffer 


more. 


78 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


“If you will marry me, my Princess,” he replied, 
“you will have nothing more to fear.” 

“I cannot do that,” replied Gracieuse, “I belong 
to the King, my father, and I must not fail in my 
duty to him. But I wish I could know how Grog- 
non has explained my absence.” 

“You shall know if you will follow me,” replied 
Percinet. He led her to a high tower built of rock 
crystal. 

“Put your foot on mine, and put your little finger 
in my mouth,” said he, “then look toward the city.” 

She looked and saw Grognon with the King, and 
heard her say, 

“That wretched girl has hanged herself in the 
cellar. You must console yourself for a small loss.” 

The King wept while Grognon hurried away to 
have a log of wood wrapped up and buried. 

The King continued to weep and would neither 
eat nor drink. 

“I cannot endure to see him like that,” said Gra- 
cieuse, “If you love me, take me back to him.” 

“My Princess,” answered Percinet, “you will more 
than once regret the Fairy Palace, but I cannot hope 
that you will regret me, for you treat me more bar- 
barously than Grognon has treated you.” 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


79 


Still Gracieuse would not be refused. She bade 
farewell to the Queen and her daughters, and de- 
parted with Percinet in the ivory car. 

As they were on the way, she turned for a last 
look, but there was only a broad green meadow. 



The King continued to weep. 


“What has happened?” cried she. “There is no 
Palace!” 

“No,” replied Percinet sadly, “y° u will see my 
Palace no more until after you are buried.” 

Gracieuse did not think of what he said. She 
thought only of her father, and as soon as she arrived 
she ran quickly to find him. He took her for a phan- 


80 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


tom and would have fled, but she held him fast; and 
told him what Grognon had done. 

He refused to believe until the log of wood was 
dug up and shown to him. Then he exclaimed, 

“You are indeed my own dear child.” He would 



Departed with Percinet in the ivory car. 


have said more, but Grognon rushed in like a cyclone, 
and fairly shouted, 

“Leave that good-for-nothing creature, or I will 
go back to my Castle of Riches. This is not Gra- 
cieuse at all. It is a worthless girl who looks like her.” 

The King said nothing while Grognon’s women 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


81 


dragged away Gracieuse. They tore off her clothing, 
and dressed her like a peasant. Then they threw her 
into a dungeon, and gave her dry crusts to eat and 
straw to lie on. 

She cried until she could cry no more, all the time 
wishing for Percinet, but not daring to call upon 
him. She had treated him so cruelly that she said 
to herself, 

“Perhaps he does not love me any more.” 

Now Grognon had a foster sister who was as ma- 
licious as herself and was a Fairy besides. Grognon 
said to her: 

“There is a little minx here whom I detest. I 
want you to invent a task that she can never do. 
I will give it to her every morning, and every evening 
I will beat her black and blue.” 

“All right,” answered the Fairy, “I will think 
the matter over and come back tomorrow.” 

She kept her word, and came back with a skein 
of silk four times as large as a man, and so fine that 
to breathe upon it was to break it. It was so tangled 
that there seemed neither beginning nor end. 

Grognon was enchanted and sent for Gracieuse. 

“Here, my pretty dear,” said she, “here is some 
work for your big claws, and be sure if it is not wound 


82 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


by sunset it will be the worse for you.” And she left 
the room, locking the door three times and taking 
away the key. 

Gracieuse examined the silk and threw it on the 
floor, exclaiming, 



“Ah, Percinet, if you will only forgive me and 
help me.” 

“I am here, my Princess,” answered Percinet, open- 
ing the door as easily as if he had the key in his pocket. 
“I am here and I am glad to help you.” 

He lifted the skein, shook it twice, and the broken 
threads rejoined each other. He shook it again and 
it was perfectly wound. 

“My Princess,” said he, “why will you not free 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


83 


yourself from all this? Why will you not marry 
me? You know that I love you.” 

“I fear that you do not love me enough,” answered 
Gracieuse, “I am waiting to be sure that you do.” 



“Ah, Percinet, if you will only help me.” 


Percinet did not reply, but bowed and left her. 
Promptly at sunset Grognon entered, accompanied 
by the four women who always attended her. Gra- 
cieuse presented the skein. 


84 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


“You have soiled the silk!” she cried, and gave 
Gracieuse two blows that turned her rosy cheeks 
black and blue. 

The next day the Fairy appeared with a great 
barrel of feathers of all colors and kinds. 

“Now,” said she, “tell your prisoner to sort 
out this mixture, and to put each kind of feather 
in a separate heap. It is what she can never 
do.” 

Grognon sent for Gracieuse and threatening her 
as before, locked her in with the barrel. 

“Let me die,” she sobbed, “I will not call on Per- 
cinet for help. If he loved me, he would be here al- 
ready.” 

“I am here, my Princess,” said Percinet, emerging 
from the barrel where he had been hidden. “I am 
here, and after so many proofs how can you doubt 
that I love you more than my life?” 

He waved his hand twice, and the feathers ar- 
ranged themselves around the room in little orderly 
heaps. 

“I cannot thank you enough,” said Gracieuse, 
smiling sweetly. “I should be lost without you, 
and you may be certain I am not ungrateful.” 

Percinet sighed and left her, and Grognon came. 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 85 



She was in a frenzied rage. She struck the Princess, 
and said, 

“The feathers are badly arranged/’ 

She was ready to strangle the Fairy who arrived 
bringing an emerald box, and saying, 

“Make your slave 
take this box wherever 
you please, but charge 
her solemnly not to 
open it.” 

Grognon called Gra- 
cieuse. “Carry this 
box,” said she, “to my 
Castle of Riches, and 
lay it on my dressing 
table, and remember 
that I forbid you on 
pain of death, to look 
at what is in it.” 

Gracieuse went as 
she was bidden. On the 
way she sat down to rest, and to enjoy the clovers and 
daisies that were growing in the green meadow. The 
emerald box lay on her lap, and she began wondering 
what was in it. 


He waved his hand twice. 


86 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


“What harm can happen to me if I do open it? I 
shall take nothing out and I may as well know what 
is inside?” thought she. 



The Fairy arrived bringing an emerald box. 


She lifted the cover and out swarmed a crowd of 
tiny people. There were little ladies and gentlemen, 
there were musicians with violins, there were servants 
carrying wee chairs, tables and dishes, there were 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


87 


cooks and waiters. They separated in bands. The 
ladies and gentlemen danced, while the cooks pre- 
pared the feast. 

Gracieuse was amused in watching them, but when 
she grew tired, and would have had them return to 
the box, not one of them would go back. The little 
gentlemen and ladies danced away, the musicians 
with their violins, the cooks and waiters with their 
saucepans on their heads, and their toasting forks 
over their shoulders, flitted into the woods. When 
Gracieuse chased them from the woods, they ran into 
the meadow; when she followed them to the meadow, 
they ran back into the woods. 

She wrung her hands, exclaiming, 

“O Percinet! Percinet! if you still love me, come 
and help me.” 

She did not need to call twice, for Percinet was 
beside her. 

“Ah! my Princess,” he said, “if it were not for 
the wretched Grognon, you would never think of 
me.” 

“Do not say that,” said Gracieuse, “I am almost 
quite certain that you love me.” 

Percinet was charmed by this answer, and took 
up the emerald box. Instantly the tiny people 


88 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


packed into it and it closed as if it had never been 
opened. 

Gracieuse did not say “Thank you,” but she smiled 
happily, and held out her two little hands to him, 
saying sweetly, 



Gracieuse chased them from the woods. 


“I must go to the Castle of Riches. Will you 
take me there?” 

When they arrived at the Castle, and Gracieuse 
asked the governor to show her into the Queen’s 
dressing room, he laughed. 

“Are you going to keep your sheep there?” he 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 89 

said. “Be off! Never wooden shoes stepped on such 
a floor.” 

After a good deal of persuasion, he consented to 
write a line saying that he would not let her into the 
Queen’s room, because he knew that such a looking 
object must be a cheat. 

On the way back Gracieuse promised that if she 
should suffer again from Grognon’s malice, she would 
marry Percinet. 

Grognon was speechless when she saw her. She 
flung the Governor’s note into the fire, and the emerald 
box along with it. 

Then she sat down and planned. She was like a 
fire. The flames had gone, but they had left behind 
the red hot coals, the most dangerous of all. 

“I will get rid of her this time,” she resolved, “I 
will ask no aid.” 

She ordered a pit, deeper than a well, to be dug. 
It was done, and a stone laid over it. 

Then she called Gracieuse. “There is a treasure 
hidden under this stone. Please come and help me 
lift it.” 

Her voice was so kind that Gracieuse hastened to 
help, but as she bent over the edge of the pit, Grognon 
pushed her in headlong. 


90 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


She fell to the bottom, crying, 

“I am buried alive.” 

Suddenly all around was light. The side of the 
pit became an arch through which she saw the garden 
she knew so well, and there too were Percinet and 
his mother and sisters. 

Then she remembered how Percinet had said, she 
would not see the Fairy Palace again until after she 
was buried. 

The Queen came toward her with open arms. 

“Come, my child,” she said .tenderly, “to those 
who love you. Do not any longer refuse to marry 
my son.” 

Gracieuse kissed the Queen’s hand, and said she 
would be glad to please her in all things, all her life. 
She would marry Percinet. 

The Palace resounded with music, and the wedding 
was too splendid to describe. 

The Fairies came from every land, some drawn 
by dragons, some by swans, some sailed on clouds, 
some rode on balls of fire. 

Among them appeared Grognon’s foster-sister. She 
was amazed when she saw Gracieuse, and threatened 
to punish Grognon severely; but Gracieuse besought 
her not to do so, and said, 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


91 



The Fairies came from every land. 


92 


GRACIEUSE AND PERCINET 


“If you will forgive her for my sake, I shall know 
that you are my friend.” 

“You may know, too,” replied the Fairy, “that I 
will always be your friend.” 

Gracieuse and Percinet lived all their lives in the 
Fairy Palace, and Gracieuse never saw Grognon again. 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


Once upon a time there was a King and a Queen 
who loved each other so dearly that they were models 
to their subjects, and such harmony prevailed through- 
out their Kingdom, that it was known as the Land 
of Love. 

They had one only daughter who was sweet in 
face and disposition, and was the delight of her parents. 
Her life promised to be all sunshine when suddenly, 
dark clouds came over it. 

The King while hunting, was thrown from his horse 
and killed instantly. The grief of the Queen was so 
great that her physicians said that she would die. 
And she knew it was true, and that the future of her 
daughter must be provided for. 

Now her best friend was the most powerful of all 
the Fairies, and so was called the Sovereign Fairy; 
to her the Queen sent this message: 

“Come to me quickly, for I have something to 
confide to you, but if you delay, I shall not live to see 
you.” 

As soon as the Fairy heard this, she hastened to 


94 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


the bed-side of the dying Queen, who told her what 
was on her heart. 

“I promise,” answered the Fairy, “all that you 
ask — I will care for the Kingdom and for Constancia, 
and I will love her, as I have loved you.” 

“Promise, too,” murmured the Queen, “that you 



The King while hunting was thrown from his horse. 


will be a mother to her, and will choose her a 
husband so kind and good that she shall always 
love him.” The Fairy promised and the Queen 
died. 

Happily the Sovereign Fairy could read the stars 
as easily as she could read a story in a book, and 
she learned that Constancia would be in great 
danger from a certain Giant, but that if she could 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


95 


escape him until she was eighteen years old, he would 
have no more power over her. 

As this Giant lived close to the Land of Love, the 
Fairy resolved to take her dear adopted child so 
far away that he would have no chance to find her. 
First, she made good laws for the country, and chose 
a capable Governor. Then she went with Constancia 
to a region that was a real Paradise, and there they 
lived together, feeding their sheep, among the shep- 
herds and shepherdesses. 

Constancia knew why she was being hidden, so 
that one day when the Fairy was called away, and 
charged her not to leave the house, she readily prom- 
ised to obey. 

“Do not be long gone, dear Mother,” said she, 
kissing the Fairy good-bye. “I will amuse myself 
with Ruson until you return.” 

Ruson was Constancia’s pet sheep who would 
never eat nor drink unless she, herself, held his little 
silver dish. 

He had been a spoiled lamb, and now he was a 
spoiled sheep. 

The Fairy was hardly gone when Constancia, look- 
ing out at a window, saw a great, gray wolf running 
toward the forest with Ruson in his mouth, 


96 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


Forgetting her promise to the Fairy, she rushed 
after and threw her crook at the wolf with such force 
that he dropped his prey. 

But as Ruson fell to the ground, there stepped 



“You are just the one for me.” 


from behind the trees a creature worse than any 
wolf. It was the Giant! 

“You are just the one for me,” he exclaimed; “I 
have been searching for you the world over and here 
you are!” 

As he spoke he opened the game-bag, which had 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


97 


been slung over his shoulder, and thrust Constancia 
and her sheep into it. 

“Dear, darling Ruson,” said she “it is certainly 
no consolation to have you with me in this place.” 

And as she wept, Ruson bleated and the wolf howled 
a long howl — this awoke a dog and a cat and a cock 
and a parrot, who had all been asleep in one corner 
of the bag. They made such a racket that the Giant 
felt like killing every one of them, but afterwards he 
tied up the bag and threw it on the top of a tree; 
then he went off to fight a duel with another 
Giant. 

When Constancia could no longer hear the sound 
of his foot-steps, she took her scissors and cut a hole 
in the bag, and let the animals out, one by one, all 
except the wolf. 

“I will teach you not to steal innocent little sheep,” 
said she to him, and she sewed up the hole so that 
he was securely fastened in. 

The night was dark, but the grateful animals did 
their best to protect her; the cat lighted the path 
with its fiery eyes; the dog was sentinel and barked 
if a leaf rustled; the cock crowed to frighten lions 
or tigers; while the parrot jabbered after such a 
fashion that it seemed as if a dozen people were talk- 


98 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 



in g at once. No robber would have dared approach 
such a band. 

It was useless for Constancia to look for the cot- 
tage that she had left, for everything around was 
new and strange. And at dawn she found herself 


The animals did their best to protect her. 

on the border of a brook that watered a beautiful 
meadow, but her animals had vanished and only 
Ruson remained. 

“Where am I?” she said, “and who will take care 
of me? Ah, Ruson, little sheep, you have cost me 
dear! If I had not run to save you, I should be at 
home with the kind Fairy!” 

She did not cease lamenting until, exhausted by 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


99 


fatigue, she fell asleep. But Ruson was a faithful 
guardian, and bleated softly to awaken her. She 
opened her eyes, and saw standing before her a young 
man of such a noble air and so magnificently dressed, 
that she knew he could be nothing less than a Prince. 

“Pardon me, beautiful shepherdess,” said he, “you 
seem sad and alone. Is there anything that I can do 
for you?” 

“Indeed, sir,” answered Constancia, “If I could 
only tend a flock of sheep in this quiet place, I should 
be the happiest shepherdess in the world.” 

“That may easily be arranged,” said the Prince, 
“I will speak to the Queen, my mother, and I am sure 
she will be glad to gratify you.” 

The Prince went directly to his mother, and he 
could not have gone at a better time, for she was 
just dismissing a shepherdess who had neglected 
the sheep. 

“I met a young girl this morning,” said he, “who 
was looking for something to do — no doubt she would 
like the place.” 

“Delightful!” exclaimed the Queen. “Send her 
immediately to take charge of the flock.” 

After this the Prince and Constancia saw each 
other continually, and each thought the other per- 


100 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 



Pardon me, beautiful shepherdess” said he, “You seem sad and alone.’ 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


101 


feet. But after a while the Prince began to be much 
troubled. 

“A Prince will never be allowed to marry a shep- 
herdess/’ said he to himself, “I shall lose my Con- 
stancia!” 

Anxiety made him ill. No one understood what 
the matter was; remedies were of no avail; the Prince 
grew worse every day. As for Constancia, she did 
not know the cause any more than the others, but 
she remembered a wonderful Fairy recipe — which 
was secret like al] fairy things — and she sent a page 
to let the Queen know that one of her shepherdesses 
was sure that she could cure the Prince. 

The Queen listened and said haughtily: 

“I have no faith in ignorant people; however, 
let the girl try, but if she does not succeed, I shall 
punish her severely for lying.” 

When Constancia arrived at the Palace she was 
informed that unless she cured the Prince she would 
be tied in a sack and thrown into the river. 

She was not in the least alarmed, but carried the 
cordial which she had prepared, to the Prince, and 
as she gave it to him, she whispered softly, 

“Unless you get well now, I shall be drowned and 
it will be your fault.” 


102 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


“I am quite recovered!” exclaimed he springing 
to his feet; and he sent for the doctors, who were 
dumb with astonishment when they found the 
Prince looking and acting as though he had never 
been ill. 

When he presented himself to the Queen, she was 
more amazed than the doctors. 

“Is it possible!” she said as she kissed him. “My 
dear son; this is wonderful! It is a miracle!” 

“It is so, my mother,” replied the Prince, “and 
will you not thank the shepherdess yourself for what 
she has done?” 

“Thank her!” exclaimed the Queen. “No, indeed, 
she has only done what she ought to do!” 

But the King, who was even happier than the 
Queen because his son was well again, interfered and 
said, 

“We owe the shepherdess a debt which we can 
never repay, and we ought to tell her so. Let her 
be sent to us!” 

There was nothing more to be said and Constancia 
was ushered in, but as she entered the room the Queen 
looked at her, and uttering a loud scream fell back 
in her chair as if she were fainting, but instantly re- 
covering herself, she spoke very kindly and added. 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


103 


“Now you shall remain with me, and care for my 
flowers instead of tending my sheep.” 

When all were gone and the King and Queen were 
alone the King said, 

“My dear, why were you so overcome when you 
saw that girl?” 



She confided to him that she was Queen of the Land of L?, ve 


The Queen grew pale and clasped her hands ner- 
vously as she answered, “Last night I dreamed, and 
in my dream I saw a stranger — when this girl came 
into the room I recognized her — she was the stranger 
and she married our son. I know that she will cause 
me much sorrow.” 

“Never believe in dreams,” said the King care- 


104 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


lessly. “Send her back to her sheep, and forget all 
about her!” 

The Queen was provoked by the King’s want of 
sympathy and she determined to take matters in 
her own hands; she would send the Prince away, and 
while he was gone, she would get rid of the shepherdess. 

But before the Prince went, Constancia confided 
to him that she was Queen of the Land of Love, and 
that in a little while she could return to her King- 
dom. Then they made a plan as well as the Queen; 
they would be married as soon as the Prince returned. 

One day after the Prince was gone, Constancia 
went into the garden with Ruson trotting before her, 
when suddenly she was surrounded by a legion of 
little hissing scorpions and vipers who sprang up to 
sting her, but fell back unable to move; the paths 
were covered with them, but they lay on the grbufid 
as if they were charmed. 

Now the Queen was watching from a window, hop- 
ing to see Constancia attacked by the poisonous 
reptiles, but she only saw her walk quietly and un- 
molested among the flowers. 

It happened that there lived at no great distance 
a Witch, who was more hateful than most Witches. 
She had shut herself up in a tower into which she did 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


105 



The Queen was watching from a window. 


106 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


not allow a single ray of sunlight to enter, while to 
prevent the approach of strangers, she kept elephants 
who raced furiously through the forest, and dashed in 
pieces every traveler whom they met. 

The Witch was as much a friend of the Queen as 
she could be a friend of anybody, and she had said 
to her, 

“If ever you send me a token, I will give the mes- 
senger who brings it the deadly Belt of Friendship to 
carry back to you.” 

The Queen remembered this and called Constancia; 
“Take this golden arrow,” said she, “to the Witch 
of the Dark Tower, and tell her that you are come 
to ask for the Belt of Friendship.” 

Constancia started on her errand with Ruson by 
her side. But it was a lonely wood, and she was glad 
when a little grow n j oined her and asked pleSS* 

andywb^shewas going. 

Constancia told her, and she said, “You will have 
no trouble if you will follow my advice. You will 
meet ferocious elephants, but let your sheep walk 
before you, and the elephants will become as gentle 
as lambs. On the way back put the Belt quickly 
around the first tree that you pass; continue to put 
it around each tree as you go on, and long before you 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


107 


reach home all the evil power will be used up, and 
it will be like any other belt.” 

When the little gray woman finished speaking, she 
made as if she were going in another direction, but 
paused and added, “Ruson will protect you from 
the elephants to-day, as he protected you from the 
scorpions and vipers yesterday. Good-bye!” 

When Constancia entered the forest the elephants 
rushed towards her, but at the sight of Ruson they 
became like sheep themselves and caressed him with 
their trunks. 

Although the Witch could hardly believe her eyes 
when Constancia appeared, she only asked, “Why 
are you come?” 

“I am come for the Belt of Friendship,” replied 
Constancia, “and here is a golden arrow.” 

“Is the Belt for yourself?” askeci th? Witch. 

“I do not know,” said Constancia. 

“But I know very well,” said the Witch, and slid 
drew from her pocket a linked golden belt. “Here,” 
said she, “is the Belt of Friendship. It is precious, 
and will make you more beautiful than you are, 
especially if you put it on as soon as you enter 
the forest.” 

Then Constancia returned with Ruson, who seemed 


108 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


a greater treasure than ever, and the elephants were 
like old friends. 

As for the first tree, the Belt had scarcely touched 
it when it became a cinder, but as Constancia put 
it around tree after tree, the flames grew less and 
less until the Belt of Friendship became a harmless 
girdle. 

And when she arrived at the Palace the Queen 
said, 

“ Never have you been to the Tower of my old 
friend!” 

“Pardon me, Madame,” said Constancia. “I have 
been there, and here is the Belt of Friendship which 
you sent for.” 

“Why have you not put it on?” asked the Queen. 

“It is too fine for a poor shepherdess like me,” 
answered Constanpia^” 

“Nok^aii » sa ;d the Queen; “I give it to you for 
yGur trouble. Don’t fail to wear it! Now tell me 
what you saw on the road.” 

“Only some elephants. They were so tame and 
intelligent that it was a pleasure to walk with them,” 
replied Constancia. 

The Queen said nothing, for there was nothing 
to say. In the morning Constancia went out into 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


109 


the garden with Ruson. The poisonous reptiles were 
still there and she wore the Belt of Friendship. 

The Queen watched her moving among the flowers, 
as tranquilly as if she had a band of ribbon around 
her waist. The Queen was frantic. 

It chanced that there was a slave vessel in the har- 



bor and she sent for the Captain and told him that 
she would give him a slave, if he would promise to 
take her so far away that she could never get back. 
The captain was glad enough to make such a bar- 
gain, and sailed away with Constancia. 

On that very day the Prince returned, and the 
Queen told him that Constancia was dead. 



110 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


“Then I will die upon her grave,” said he. 

“Why should you die for a miserable shepherdess?” 
asked the Queen scornfully. 

“She is no shepherdess!” cried the Prince. “She 
is Queen of the Land of Love!” 

“If that is so,” said his mother, “I will confess 
that she is not dead. I sold her to the Captain of a 
slave vessel.” 

“Then I will not die! But I will live to find her!” 
said the Prince. So he sailed away from his own 
country, determined to follow Constancia to the 
ends of the earth. 

One day, when the vessel had anchored on an 
island, the Prince strolled along the shore. There 
he saw a great forge where two Giants were at work. 

He inquired of them if any vessel had stopped 
there lately. They made no reply, but worked on 
faster than ever. 

As he could get no satisfaction, he was turning 
away, when, like flashes of lightning, the two Giants 
disappeared and a beautiful boy emerged from the 
flames of the forge. He wore a band over his eyes 
and held a bow and arrow. 

“Stop, Prince!” said he, “I will help you if you 
prove yourself worthy.” 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


111 


“How must I prove my worth?” asked the Prince? 
“You must throw yourself into this,” said the 
Boy, pointing to the burning fiery furnace. 

The Prince leaped into the midst of the flames 
and lost consciousness. 



He saw a great forge where two Giants were at work 


When he came to himself he was a Pigeon — a won- 
derfully beautiful Pigeon! Instead of lying in the 
forge, he was resting softly in a nest of roses. 

But the change from a man to a voiceless bird, 
was more than he could bear! He was desperate! 
He tore the down from his breast, and flung himself 


112 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


bleeding to the ground. As he fell, two young girls 
were passing, and one of them said, 

“Did you know that Queen Constancia, whom 
our Mistress loves so dearly, is imprisoned by a Giant 
who means to marry her? But our Mistress is re- 
solved that he shall do no such thing.” 

The other girl did not seem to have listened, for 
she exclaimed, 

“O, see this poor bird! Some owl or raven has 
tom away its feathers! We will take it to our Mis- 
tress!” And she laid the pigeon tenderly into the 
little basket that she carried on her arm. 

“Madame,” said she, running to meet the Sov- 
ereign Fairy, “here is a pigeon that we have found — 
it is quite tame, and if it had feathers it would be very 
handsome. We think perhaps that you may like 
to keep it.” 

The Fairy smiled and took it, but did not tell the 
young girls that it was she who had transformed 
a great Prince into a bird. 

Then she carried the Pigeon into her own room 
and shut the door. 

“Prince,” said she, you have proved yourself as 
worthy of my daughter Constancia as she is of you. 
Now listen! The Giant found Constancia on the 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


118 


slave vessel, and carried her off, and is making great 
preparations for his marriage, which I shall certainly 
prevent. Here is my ring; it will guide you to the 
castle where Constancia is imprisoned. Give it to 
her and as soon as it is on her finger she will become 



“O, see this poor bird.” 


a Dove and you can fly away, together — but, stay 
a moment! — 

She took from her closet a flask of colorless liquid 
and poured it over the Prince. Instantly his torn 
plumage became a marvel of beauty, and he darted 
through the open window. 

Constancia was leaning sadly over a balustrade 


114 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


on the top of the Giant’s Tower, when the Pigeon 
flew down and softly laid the ring upon her 
hand. 

As she stood examining it and wondering, the 
Giant suddenly appeared. In her fright, and with- 
out knowing what she was doing, she slipped the 
ring upon her finger, and in the same instant became 
a Dove — a beautiful white Dove! 

And the Pigeon and the Dove flew away to- 
gether. 

Never surprise equaled the surprise of the Giant! 
He filled the air with his roarings; he rushed madly 
to the edge of the Tower, and shaking his fist into 
the sky, he lost his balance and fell headlong into 
the sea. 

There he was drowned. 

While the Prince and Constancia were flying away 
and he was regretting that he could not tell her who 
he was, he suddenly found that he could speak, and 
at the same time he heard Constancia murmur, 

“Now that I am safe I must find my dear Prince!” 

“Your Prince is here beside you!” said he, “let 
us fly to yonder grove and, while you rest, I will tell 
you my story.” 

They flew to the grove which stood in the center 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


115 



The pigeon flew down. 



116 THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 

of a green expanse — so wide that in the far-off dis- 
tance it melted away into cloudland. 

All beautiful things of nature grew there, and it 
was a home of perfect peace. 


It was a home of perfect peace. 

Then the Prince told Constancia his story, and 
added, “Now let us quickly seek our best friend, 
for I know that she will restore us to our own forms!” 

“Oh, no! let us remain as we are, loving each other 
and being alone together! It is the only life worth 
living,” cried Constancia, and while she was speak- 


THE FAIRY GUARDIAN 


117 


ing the Sovereign Fairy who had not waited to be 
sought, appeared. 

Standing in the midst of the flowers with Ruson 
by her side, she said in her own kindly way, “and 



With Ruson by her side. 


this life you shall live, my own Constancia, and your 
faithful Ruson shall live with you. Here you may 
remain until the time when you must reign over the 
Land of Love. And it shall be in the days to come, 
people will say to the Bridegroom and the Bride, ‘ May 
you be as happy as King Pigeon and Queen Dove!’” 



V 







THE YELLOW DWARF 


Once upon a time there was a Queen who had lost 
her husband and all her children, except one daugh- 
ter, and she was always afraid of losing her too, and 
so never contradicted her in all her life. 

Everybody said it was the Queen’s fault that the 
Princess grew up very proud and very vain. She 
was called Beauty, and really believed that the name 
was invented expressly for her. 

“Other Princesses are beautiful, but I am a per- 
fect beauty,” said she. 

The Queen, knowing that she could not live al- 
ways, dreaded to leave her precious child alone in 
the world. 

“My daughter,” she said, “why not choose a hus- 
band who is worthy of you?” 

“No one is worthy of me, my mother,” answered 
the Princess haughtily. 

The Queen began to regret the way in which her 
daughter had been brought up, but it was too late 
to mend matters. So she resolved to consult the 
celebrated Fairy of the Desert. 

119 


no 


THE YELLOW DWARF 


Now the Fairy of the Desert kept a pack of lions, 
and in order to pass, it was necessary to throw them 
little cakes made of millet flour and crocodile eggs. 
The Queen herself kneaded the cakes and carried 
them in a basket. 

She was not used to walking, and by and by she 



Very proud and very vain. 


sat down under a tree to rest, and fell asleep; when 
she awoke, she found only the basket; the cakes were 
gone, and she heard the roaring of the lions. 

“Alas! Alas! I shall be devoured,” she cried, and 
clung to the tree under which she had slept, when all 
at once she heard, 

“Chet! Chet! Hem! Hem!” 





THE YELLOW DWARF 121 

She looked on all sides and then up into the tree. 
A little man sat there eating an orange. 


A little man sat there eating an orange. 

“I know you well, Madame,” said he. “You are 
afraid of the lions, and you may well be for you have 
no cakes.” 

“I suppose I must die,” said the Queen, “but I 


122 


THE YELLOW DWARF 


should be more resigned if my dear daughter were 
only married.” 

“Indeed! Have you a daughter?” cried the Yellow 
Dwarf, for so he was called because of his color, and 
because he lived in the Orange tree. “Truly I am 
glad, for I am searching land and sea for a wife, and 
if you will promise me your daughter, the lions shall 
not touch you.” 

The Queen looked at him, and was almost as much 
afraid of his face as she was of the lions. She looked 
again and did not answer. 

“What! Madame, do you hesitate?” said he. “You 
cannot care much to live!” 

Then the Queen saw the lions on the top of a hill 
running for her. Each lion had two heads and two 
rows of teeth, and its skin was as hard as shell and as 
red as blood. 

The poor Queen shrieked, 

“Oh, my Lord Dwarf, Beauty shall marry you. 
I promise! I promise!” 

“Ah, ah, ah!” said the Dwarf with a disdainful 
air. “Beauty is too fine for me. You may keep 
her. I do not want her.” 

“Oh, sir,” cried the Queen, “do not refuse her. 
There is no Princess in all the world so charming.” 


THE YELLOW DWARF 


123 

“If that is the case,” said the Dwarf, “I will ac- 
cept her out of charity. But don’t forget your prom- 
ise.” 

Instantly the Orange tree opened, and the Queen 
threw herself headlong into it. It closed, and the 
lions went hungry. 

There was a door in one side of the tree, opening 
into a field covered with thistles and surrounded by 
a ditch. In the field was a little house, low and thatched 
with straw, and as the Queen stood horror-struck, 
the door of the house opened, and the Yellow Dwarf 
walked out with a very happy manner. He wore 
yellow shoes, a yellow jacket and the look of a little 
villain. 

“I am delighted, my mother-in-law,” said he, 
“that you can see the mansion where your Beauty 
will live with me. She will feed her donkey on these 
thistles, and she can ride when she chooses. She will 
drink this water and eat frogs that fatten in it, and 
she will always have me beside her, as handsome and 
polite as you see me. Her shadow will not accom- 
pany her more closely than I.” 

This vision of the life that Beauty would lead was 
too much for the Queen, and she fainted. When 
she came to herself, she was in her own Palace with 


124 


THE YELLOW DWARF 


her ladies around her and her daughter by her side. 
And she would never have believed that she had 
been on that dreary field and promised Beauty to the 
Dwarf, if she had not found on her pillow a topaz 
chain, curiously cut, and of brightest yellow. 

She was heart-sick, and lay day after day in a deep 
melancholy, and would neither eat nor speak. 

Now Beauty had a loving heart in spite of all her 
faults, and she thought, 

“I will go to the Fairy of the Desert. She is wise 
and perhaps she will tell me what I can do for my 
mother.” 

Then she made the cakes for the lions, and one 
evening, pretending to go early to bed, she stole away 
to visit the Fairy. 

As she passed the fatal Orange tree, she could not 
resist the temptation to taste the fruit; it was even 
sweeter and more delicious than it looked. 

“It is worth while coming here just to eat these,” 
she said to herself, and turned to take up her basket; 
but there was no basket, only a frightful little Yellow 
Dwarf. The poor Princess burst into tears. 

“Why do you weep, beautiful girl?” asked the 
Dwarf. 

“Alas, who would not weep,” she answered. “I 


THE YELLOW DWARF 


125 


came to visit the Fairy of the Desert and now I can- 
not go to her safely, for I have no cakes to feed the 
lions.” 

“Why are you going to the Fairy?” asked the 
Dwarf. 

“Because,” replied the Princess, “the Queen, my 
mother, is become very melancholy, and no one knows 
why. I am going to inquire of the Fairy, for I am 
sure she will tell me the reason.” 

“If that is all,” said the Dwarf, “I can tell you 
better than she can. The Queen is sorry because 
she has promised you in marriage.” 

“The Queen has promised me!" exclaimed Beauty. 
“What do you mean?” 

“Beautiful Princess,” said the Dwarf, falling on 
his knees, “I flatter myself that you will not be dis- 
pleased when you know that I am the Queen’s 
choice.” 

“You! My mother choose you!" exclaimed Beauty. 
“Is it possible that there can be such insolent folly 
as yours?” 

“It is all the same to me!” retorted the Dwarf, 
springing to his feet. “The lions are coming, and 
in three bites they will avenge me for this contemp- 
tuous treatment,” 


126 


THE YELLOW DWARF 


The Princess became frantic, for she heard the 
roars of the ferocious creatures. 

“I shall die! I shall die!” she shrieked. “Must 
I end my happy life like this?” 



‘‘Beautiful Princess” said the Dwarf falling on his knees. 


The wicked Dwarf laughed mockingly. “Then 
you will not have to waste your loveliness on a foolish, 
insolent Dwarf like me,” he said. 

“Please do not be angry,” implored the Princess, 
clasping her beautiful hands. “I would rather marry 
all the Dwarfs in the universe than perish like this.” 


THE YELLOW DWARF 


127 


“Look well at me, Princess, before you give your 
word,” said the Dwarf. 

“I have looked at you. There are the lions! Save 
me! I shall die of fear!” 

As she spoke she fainted, and without knowing 
how, she found herself in her own bed, and wearing 
a ring made of a single red hair, which she could 
not take off without tearing the flesh from her 
finger. 

The shock was so great that for a little while she 
was more depressed than the Queen, but afterwards 
she decided to outwit the Dwarf and marry some 
great King. 

She said to her mother, “I prefer to remain un- 
married, but since you will not consent to that, I 
choose the King of the Gold Mines. He is very power- 
ful and very handsome and has loved me for many 
years.” 

“My own dear child, you are making my life bright 
again,” said the Queen, and she smiled and began 
arranging for a magnificent wedding. 

As for the King of the Gold Mines, when he knew 
from Beauty herself that she had chosen him for 
her husband, he was too happy for words. 

As for the suitors, they were all furious ? which was 


128 


THE YELLOW DWARF 


most unreasonable, for Beauty could not have mar- 
ried twenty Kings at once. 

The wedding day arrived; the wedding guests were 
gathered, and the Queen was radiant with delight as 
she looked upon the King and Princess; he was so hand- 
some and she was so beautiful, and both were so happy. 

Suddenly, there came a flash of lightning and a 
growl of thunder, and through the great door entered 
two enormous Indian Cocks dragging after them an 
iron chest. 

A bent old woman leaning on a crutch followed. 
She was a marvel of ugliness, and was wrapped in a 
black garment covered with silver moons and stars. 

The guests all drew back to let her pass. She paused 
in front of the bridal pair and straightened herself, 
until she changed into a giantess and her crutch into 
a wand, which she brandished like a spear. 

“Ho, Queen! Ho, Princess !” she shouted. “You 
are trying to break your word to my friend, the Yellow 
Dwarf, are you? I am the Fairy of the Desert and 
but for him and his Orange tree, my lions would have 
devoured you both, and I swear that you shall keep 
your promise or I will burn my wand.” 

The Queen looked at the Princess, and the Princess 
looked at the Queen. 


THE YELLOW DWARF 


129 


Alas, my daughter,” said the Queen weeping, 
“What do I hear? What have you promised?” 

“Alas, my mother,” said the Princess, “what have 
you, yourself, promised? 


Now the King of the Gold Mines, waiting only to 
draw his sword, rushed toward the old Fairy. 



Two enormous Indian Cocks dragging after them an iron chest. 


“Wretched creature,” cried he, “leave this place 
instantly, or lose your life.” 

He had scarcely spoken when the cover of the iron 
chest was thrown open with a frightful noise, and 
the Yellow Dwarf, astride a monstrous Persian Cat, 
sprang between him and the Fairy of the Desert. 

“Your business is with no one but me,” said he, 
glaring at the King. “This faithless Princess wears 


130 


THE YELLOW DWARF 



The yellow Dwarf astride a monstrous cat. 


THE YELLOW DWARF 


131 


upon her finger a ring made of one of my hairs. It 
is the seal of her promise, and she can never take it 
off.” 

While he was speaking the two Indian Cocks flew 
to each side of the Dwarf, throwing out such flames 
from their mouths and eyes, that they seemed like 
burning fiery furnaces. 

The King of the Gold Mines was not in the least 
dismayed, and would have attacked the Dwarf when 
the Fairy of the Desert, transforming her wand into 
a lance, struck the Princess who fell into the arms of 
her mother. 

The King rushed forward to protect her or die with 
her, but the Dwarf was too quick for him. Leaning 
down from his cat, he tore the Princess from her 
mother’s arms and disappeared with her. 

The King stood paralyzed, when suddenly he be- 
came totally blind and realized that some extraordinary 
power was transporting him through space. 

It was the Fairy of the Desert, who seeing how 
handsome and brave he was, had determined to use 
all her art, and make him forget Beauty and marry 
her. 

She carried him to the deserted cave of a hermit 
and restored his sight. Then, appearing like a pretty 


132 


THE YELLOW DWARF 


young girl who was passing that way by chance, she 
paused before the opening of the cave. 

“Is it possible that I see the King of the Gold 
Mines?” exclaimed she. “Why are you here? What 
misfortune can have brought you to this dismal place?” 

The King, misled by appearances, replied, “Indeed 
I do not know why I am here, but I do know that 
I was brought by the Fairy of the Desert, for 1 recog- 
nized her voice although I could not see her.” 

“Alas,” said the false maiden, “If you are fallen 
into her hands, you will never be free until you marry 
her.” 

At that moment the King happened to glance at 
her feet and saw they were griffon’s feet. He remem- 
bered that was the mark by which the Fairy of the 
Desert was always known, and which she had no 
power to change. 

The King was clever, and only said, “How can she 
expect me to marry her, when she treats me like a 
criminal? I shall hate her until she restores my lib- 
erty.” 

He was looking on the ground as he spoke, but when 
he finished speaking, he lifted his eyes to see the effect 
of his words upon the Fairy. 

She was gone and all things were altered. 


THE YELLOW DWARF 


133 


He was upon an island. One would have said it 
was Paradise. The fruits, the flowers, the trees, the 
singing birds, the sunshine and the air! 

“If only my Princess were here,” sighed the King, 
“it would be Eden.” 

He turned quickly, for a low voice spoke his name. 
A woman was beside him. Her face had a tint of 
green and her opaline hair floated like a mist in the 
breeze. She held a mirror in one hand and in the 
other a golden comb; and her body was the body of 
a fish with fins. She had risen from the water and was 
close to the shore. 

The King was dumb with astonishment, but the 
mermaid said gently, 

“I know the absurd fancy the Fairy has taken for 
you. Come with me, and I will carry you away from 
this fatal place where, otherwise, you may languish for 
your lifetime.” 

The King did not know what to say. This might 
be the Fairy herself and unless he could see her feet 
he could not be sure. 

While he hesitated, the Mermaid, who guessed his 
thought, said, 

“This is no trap to catch you. The Dwarf and the 
Fairy are my enemies, and the Princess is so good and 


134 


THE YELLOW DWARF 


lovely that I pity her, so I tell you again, if you will 
trust me I will save you.” 

“I trust you,” replied the King, “but tell me first 
what you know about my Princess.” 



She had risen from the water and was close to the shore. 


“We must not lose time by talking,” said the Mer- 
maid. “I must leave on the bank a figure that will 
deceive the Fairy.” 

She cut a large bundle of reeds, and tied them to- 
gether, saying, 

“Sea reeds, I command you to stay stretched on 


THE YELLOW DWARF 135 

the ground until the Fairy of the Desert shall take 
you away.” 

Instantly the reeds changed into the perfect counter- 
part of the King of the Gold Mines, but it was livid, 
as if the King had been drowned. And it lay there 
until the Fairy of the Desert, who was completely 
deceived, buried it with great lamentation, and shrieks 
that made the lions tremble. 

Then the Mermaid seated the King upon her fish 
tail, and as they swam out into the open sea, said, 

“When the Yellow Dwarf stole the Princess, he 
shut her in the Castle of Steel where you will find 
her. Take this sword, it is made of a single diamond, 
and use it against all who resist you; but never let 
it fall from your hand. I will conceal myself and 
watch you, and when you have rescued the Princess, 
I will carry you together to the Queen, her mother, 
who is my best friend.” 

The King took the sword and thanked the Mermaid 
again and again; he could find no words to express 
his gratitude. 

“Remember,” she said, “grasp the sword firmly and 
no one can harm you; but if you let it fall you are 
lost.” 

The way was long and rough, and the Yellow Dwarf 


136 


THE YELLOW DWARF 


had surrounded the Castle with hideous monsters; 
but the King used his sword and dispersed them all. 
At last a band of lovely young girls danced to meet 
him with smiles and garlands. 



A band of lovely young girls danced to meet him. 


“Strike, strike, or you will lose the Princess for- 
ever/’ said a voice, and the King attacked them with- 
out mercy and they disappeared in an instant. 

Then he reached the Princess, and when he saw 
her, he forgot everything else and let the sword fall 
from his grasp. Then the Yellow Dwarf who was 
watching, foaming with rage, sprang from his con- 


THE YELLOW DWARF 


137 


cealment, and caught up the sword. He struck the 
King who fell dead, and in his fury he would have 
killed the Princess too, but when she saw her lover 
fall, it broke her heart, and she died with him. 



Changed them into two beautiful weeping willows. 


The kind Mermaid wept sea-green tears over them, 
and changed them into two beautiful weeping willows 
that stood close together beside the water. 








» 















THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


Once upon a time there was a Queen who did nothing 
but weep and lament because she had no child. 

She would say continually, “It is all the fault of 
that wicked Fairy Fanferluche, who hates me because 
my mother offended her.” 

People grew tired of hearing this, when one day 
a little old woman descended the chimney; she was 
only a hand high and rode on three bits of rushes. 
After sailing twice around the room she stopped 
in front of the Queen. 

“I am come,” she said, “to tell you that you shall 
have a daughter. You say that I hate you; now here 
is a sprig of hawthorn, and as soon as the Princess 
is born lay it upon her forehead, and then you will 
see how much I love you.” 

She put the hawthorn in the Queen’s hand and 
vanished. 

It happened as the Fairy had foretold. The Queen 
had, indeed, a beautiful little daughter, but no sooner 
had the hawthorn touched her forehead than she 
became a monkey. 


139 


140 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


The ladies in waiting shrieked with horror and 
the poor Queen wrung her hands crying, “What shall 
I do? What shall I do?” 

“There is but one thing to do,” said the oldest 
lady. “Throw the ape into the bottom of the sea, 
and tell the King that the Princess is dead.” 



She sailed twice around the room and stopped in front of the Queen. 


“No! No!” exclaimed the Queen, but after re- 
flecting a minute, she said, “Yes, it is all that can 
be done.” 

They quickly shut the unfortunate little creature 
in a box and called for a Page. 

“Throw this box into the sea,” commanded the 
Queen. 

The Page took it, but when he found it was a golden 



THE MONKEY PRINCESS 141 

box he resolved to keep it for himself and throw away 
the contents. 

Just as he had opened it and discovered the monkey, 
a chariot rolled by. In the chariot sat a lady in royal 
robes. It was the sister of the Queen, the Page’s 
mistress and she too was a Queen. 

She was thinking sadly of the death of her baby 
niece when her young son who sat beside her, ex- 
claimed, 

“O, the Monkey! the Monkey! Give me the Mon- 
key!” 

She looked up, and saw the Page holding the pretti- 
est little Monkey imaginable. 

He gladly took the gold pieces which the Queen 
paid him, and so Babiole came to belong to her own 
aunt. 

She was given to the Prince for a pet and was treated 
like a Princess. Her face was black as jet, and around 
her neck was a white band that had the effect of a 
ruff, and at her ears grew soft tufts delicately shaded 
with pink. Her paws were so dainty and her spark- 
ling eyes so intelligent that she was most fascinating. 

The Prince was very fond of her and she was de- 
voted to him, for he was brave and handsome. 

She had lived in the Palace four years when she 


142 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


began to speak. Everybody was wonder-struck ! 
Babiole talking! 

As soon as the Queen heard of it, she declared that 
she needed amusement and would have the little 
monkey herself. 



They were the best of friends. 


The Prince refused to be comforted. Neither 
was Babiole at all pleased by the change. She was 
not happy with the Queen as she had been with the 
Prince. She was not allowed to do as she chose, 
nor to eat what she liked. She had masters to de- 
velop her mind and that was tiring. 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


143 


The Prince came often to see her and they were 
the best of friends. He gave her sugar plums and 
candied fruits, and thought she was the dearest little 

K 



She never saw herself in a mirror without trying to break it. 


animal ever seen. He could not know she had a 
human heart and had given it to him. 

As she grew older, she grew unhappy. She never 
saw herself in a mirror without trying to break it, 
and she passed whole nights drooping on the edge 


144 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


of the mantel-piece instead of sleeping in her soft- 
lined basket-bed. 

In the meantime the King of the Monkeys had 
seen her portrait and heard of her accomplishments, 
for never before had there been a monkey who talked, 
and the wonderful story of Babiole was told far and 
wide. King Magot had been long a sorrowing widower. 



Painting her Portrait to send to King Magot. 


for his wife, Queen Minette, not being acquainted 
with the nature of wild cats, had taken one in her 
arms and had been tom to pieces by its claws. 

But King Magot was quite consoled by the thought 
of Babiole, and he immediately despatched a retinue 
to escort her to Magotia. It did not occur to him 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


145 


to ask her to come, for he took it for granted that 
any monkey would be thankful to marry him. 

It was a grand procession — Count Mirlifiche, a 
dignified baboon, rode in the state coach, followed 
by richly gilded cars in which sat the ape ladies-in- 
waiting and a numerous suite. 



Count Mirlifiche rode in the state coach. 


When they arrived at the Palace there was a com- 
motion! Everybody was curious to see them, and 
to know why they were come. The Queen herself 
was watching, when a large parrot gorgeously colored 
in crimson and green, who had been perched on the 
shoulder of Count Mirlifiche, flew directly up to 
her window. 

“Madame,” it said, “the Count Mirlifiche desires 


146 THE MONKEY PRINCESS 

to confer with your Majesty on a most important 
subject.” 

“Tell Count Mirlifiche,” said the Queen, “that 
when he is rested I shall be glad to receive him.” 

The parrot thanked her and kissed its claws three 
times; and darted down to the shoulder of the Count 
and whispered in his ear the Queen’s reply. 

He was immensely pleased with what she said, 
but far more pleased with what she did; for she ordered 
a magnificent feast for him and his suite. 

Preserves! Syrups! Fruits! How they fell upon 
them! One choked over a mold of plum jelly — 
another broke a jar of jam trying to swallow it whole. 
They were a band of shameless gluttons! 

Only the birds who were couriers were greatly 
provoked, for they found neither seeds nor grains, 
and they could enjoy none of the other delicacies. 

One ill-tempered old jackdaw flew to the Queen. 

“Madame,” it said, “these monkeys are devour- 
ing everything before them. I tell it because I am 
sorry to see your kindness so abused.” 

“Never mind about my sweetmeats,” said the 
Queen, “I will let them go for Babiole’s sake, for I 
love her dearly.” 

When the Queen received Count Mirlifiche all 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


147 


the Court was present. The parrot made a fine 
speech and ended by telling how only Babiole could 
console King Magot for the loss of Queen Minette. 

Then everybody looked at Babiole who was sitting 
on the arm of the Queen’s chair, and then the Queen 
rose and motioned Babiole to follow her into another 
room. 



The monkey feast. 


“I am sorry, my little Pet,” said she, “but really 
you must marry Magot. I once offended his father, 
and he brought his monkeys and caused such havoc 
in the country that I had to make peace. Besides, 
he has sent you such beautiful presents. I don’t 
believe he ever did so much for Minette.” 

“I don’t care what he did for Minette,” said Babiole, 
“I want nothing from him.” And she curtsied, and 
left the room to find the Prince and tell him her troubles. 


148 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


“Well, my Babiole, when shall we dance at your 
wedding?” asked he, before she had time to speak. 

“I do not know,” said Babiole sadly, “but I do 
know that I will marry no one but you.” “Me!” 
exclaimed the Prince, lying back in his chair and 



bursting into laughter. “Marry me? I don’t think 
we are quite suited to each other! I am afraid you 
will have to take up with Magot, my darling little 
ape.” 

“It is well for you, Sir,” said Babiole indignantly, 
“that I have not the ways of an ape for if I had, I 
should scratch your eyes out and bite off your nose. 



THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


149 


You are an ingrate! and I have been most foolish 
to waste affection on a Prince like you.” 

At that moment the Governess, sent by the Queen, 
rushed into the room. Magnificent gifts from King 
Magot awaited Babiole — Babiole must hasten. The 
Governess was breathless with excitement, and Babiole 
went with her but did not hasten. 

She cared nothing for the gifts but she was attracted 
by an odd little glass box shaped like a heart that 
held only one olive and one nut. Unfortunately the 
key had been lost. 

“The King loves you so much,” said the Parrot, 
“that he has had his portrait painted for you,” and 
it showed her a picture of Magot sitting on a palm 
tree munching a cocoanut. Babiole turned away 
her eyes for she could not endure the sight. 

That night she quietly left the Palace through a 
window, and springing lightly from tree to tree ar- 
rived at a river. She started to swim across it, but 
had no sooner touched the water than she sank to 
the bottom like a piece of lead, and found herself in 
an alcove of shells where an old man leaned against 
the rock, from which flowed the streams that fed 
the river. His white hair was crowned with lilies 
and his white beard reached to his waist. 


150 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


“Why are you come, little Babiole?” asked he, 
holding out his hand. 

“Because I will not marry a baboon,” answered 
Babiole promptly. 

“I know all about you, my child,” said the old 
man kindly, “and I know all about your Prince. He 
will marry the most beautiful Princess in the world.” 

Babiole sighed and said, “Then he will never marry 
me.” 

The Old Man smiled as he replied, “I can tell 
you nothing of the future. Only take care not to 
lose the little glass box that Magot sent you. It is 
in your pocket, and here is a tortoise that will carry 
you where you ought to go.” 

“You are so good to me that I wish I knew your 
name,” said Babiole. 

“My name is Biroquoi,” he answered, “and I am 
the Father of this River. 

Then Babiole thanked him and mounted the 
tortoise, traveling at first by water and then by 
land. 

Now that very day Mirlifiche was returning in a 
rage to Magotia, when one of his monkeys climbed 
a tree for nuts and saw Babiole! 

The whole band ran after her, and almost before 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


151 


she knew how it happened, she was a prisoner locked 
in the state coach. 

They traveled three days and came to a beautiful 
garden full of fruits and flowers. The monkeys crowded 
in at the open gate — they stripped the trees of the 



“ My name is Biroquoi,” he answered. 


fruit — they trampled the flowers — they destroyed every- 
thing within reach. 

Now this garden belonged to the Queen, Babiole’s 
mother, and when she heard of the inroad of mon- 
keys, she sent soldiers to throw them all into a dungeon. 

But Babiole was different. Her dress and manner 
were so fine, and she spoke in a voice so sweet that 
the soldiers were amazed. 


152 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


They carried her to the Queen who took her in her 
arms and did not know why she did it but she could 
not help it. And Babiole nestled close to the Queen — 
and Babiole did not know why she did it, but she could 
not help it either. 

“Tell me all about yourself, you precious little 
thing,” said the Queen. “I want you with me for- 
ever, and for your sake I will pardon all the monkeys 
that came with you. How did you ever learn to 
speak?” 

“I cannot tell you much about myself. I only 
know that the Queen your sister who was returning 
home after the death of the Princess your daughter, 
saw one of your Pages about to drown me, and she 
rescued me and afterwards when I was able to speak 
I had masters to teach me — but Madame, are you 
ill?” exclaimed Babiole seeing the Queen grow deathly 
pale. 

“I am dying,” faltered the Queen. “My own 
child! have I found you again,” and she fainted. 

Babiole screamed for help. The ladies-in-waiting 
ran in and laid the Queen in bed; no one saw Babiole 
slip in beside her. 

When the Queen came to herself and was alone 
with those who were in the secret, she told them 



She fled, springing from tree to tree. 

When Babiole heard that advice, she was not long 
in slipping out of the bed and out at the window. 
She fled, as before, springing from tree to tree, and 
this time keeping carefully away from roads and foot- 
paths. 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 153 


Babiole’s story and said as she had before, “What 
shall I do?” 

“Lock up the monkey in one of the castles and let 
her be well fed and cared for,” said they. 


154 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


“I am running a double danger,” thought she, “the 
Queen may search for me or the monkeys may meet 
me.” 

Finally she came to a desert place where there 
was neither water nor sign of any green thing. 

She was almost starved when suddenly she remem- 
bered the glass box. 

“The olive and the nut will at least keep me alive 
for the moment,” thought she, and she took the box 
from her pocket and broke it with a stone. 

As she bit the olive a few drops of oil fell upon her 
paws, and instantly she was holding both box and 
fruit with a pair of little white hands. And as the oil 
gushed over her in a stream, the monkey was gone, 
and in its place stood the lovely young Princess that 
Babiole would always have been but for the wicked 
Fanferluche. 

In breaking the box she had broken the nut and a 
mist like a cloud floated from it, and as the mist drifted 
away she saw in the distance mountains and lakes 
and green fields — a wonderful country instead of a 
desert. And around her lay lawns and gardens and 
fountains, and in the midst was a magnificent Palace 
with countless attendants. It was a kingdom, and 
Babiole was the Queen! 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


155 


The fame of her beauty spread abroad and suitors 
came from far and near — but Babiole never forgot 
the Prince. 

One day a stranger knight was carried wounded into 
the Palace, and it was the Prince himself. Babiole was 



The monkey was gone, and in its place stood the lovely young Princess. 

heartbroken to see him like that! She made his ban- 
dages and moistened them with her tears and she took 
care of him herself. 

When he was recovered, he told her how he had 
been watching her in disguise and how he loved her 
and then he kissed her hand and said, 

“I will marry no one but you.” 

Babiole smiled when she heard him repeat her own 


156 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


words of long ago, and remembered how he had an- 
swered them. But she said nothing. She only smiled 
and that delighted the Prince. 

Now the wicked Fanferluche, who had always 
waited for the time to come when she could do the 
greatest harm to Babiole, carried the sleeping Princess 
that night to a barren rock and left her there. 

When she opened her eyes she thought she was 
dreaming, but when she realized that she was awake, 
and away from the Prince, she was wild with de- 
spair. 

And not knowing what she did, she sprang from 
the rock. She was not dashed to pieces as the wicked 
Fanferluche had hoped she would be, but she fell 
safely into the crystal bottle in which the Fairies 
kept their cherry brandy. It was a high tower and 
guarded by three giants, and happily it was empty. 

Meantime there was great alarm in the Palace. 
The Prince mounted his horse and rode away, calling 
always, 

“Babiole! lovely Babiole! Where are you? “Then 
a soft voice said, 

“Come and you shall find out where she is.” 

The Prince swam the river and on the bank stood 
Biroquoi. 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


157 



She fell into a crystal bottle in which the fairies kept their cherry brandy. 


158 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


“Welcome, my Lord,” said he. “I am watching 
over you and your Princess who is shut in a bottle.” 

“My Princess in a bottle!” exclaimed the astonished 
Prince. 

“She is certainly there,” said the wise Father of 
the River, “and to release her you must follow my 
counsel. Leave here your horse and mount the winged 
Dolphin that is already saddled for you.” 

The Prince obeyed, and Biroquoi gave him a cuirass 
made of scales of the golden Carp. A Naiad belted 
him with an eel from which was suspended a fish-bone 
sword, and his shield was the shell of a giant tortoise. 

The flying Dolphin rose gently in the air and the 
Prince soon discovered Babiole, who watched him 
with clasped hands. 

The Giants espied him at the same time, but being 
extremely stupid as all Giants are, they thought they 
saw a kite. 

“Catch the string! Catch the string!” cried they, 
and being bent on catching the string, they noticed 
nothing else until the Prince swooped down and cut 
them into a thousand pieces, for the magic fish-bone 
sword did magic work. And the fragments of the 
Fairies’ Bottle Guard were soon scattered to the 
winds. 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


159 


The Prince, fearing to hurt Babiole, would not break 
the bottle, but flew down the neck and kneeled before 
her and kissed her hand. 

“My Lord,” said she, “I will tell you why I cared 
so much that you should recover from your wounds. 



I am your cousin, the daughter of your mother’s sister, 
whom you found in the shape of an ape, and who 
foolishly offered you a heart that you despised.” 

“Is it possible that I should have despised the 
greatest of blessings!” exclaimed the Prince. 

“I should not admire your taste had you done 


160 


THE MONKEY PRINCESS 


anything else,” said Babiole smiling. “But I do so 
much wish to go to my mother and tell her all these 
wonderful things.” 

“Let us go together,” said the Prince and he touched 
the bottle with the magic sword and it dissolved into 
air, then placing Babiole before him on the Dolphin, 
they flew to the Palace of the Queen. 

“I must not startle my mother,” said Babiole. “It 
will be better, if you go first and prepare her to see 
me.” 

At the moment the Prince arrived, the Queen was 
thinking of Babiole and was very melancholy. 

“My dear Aunt,” said he. *‘I have the best of 
news for you. I know you are grieving for Babiole. 
She is the Beauty of the world and is waiting to come 
to you. I will bring her this moment.” 

Babiole came, and threw herself into her mother’s 
arms who held her as if she would never let her go. 

There was joy and rejoicing in the Palace, and 
in the town, music and bonfires. The Prince and 
Princess were married without delay, and so the wicked 
Fanferluche was rendered powerless to do any more 
harm. 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 

Once upon a time there was a King and a Queen 
who managed affairs so badly that they were driven 
from their kingdom. 

They had no money, and sold first their crowns and 
afterwards everything they owned, even their cloth- 
ing and their furniture, piece by piece. 

When all was gone, the King said to his wife, “We 
have nothing left to support ourselves and our poor 
children. What shall we do?” 

The Queen, who was very intelligent, took only a 
week to deliberate. Then she said, 

“Do not be discouraged. You must make some 
nets and catch birds and fish. As for our daughters, 
they are downright lazy girls who wish to be fine 
ladies and live without work. They must be taken 
where they can never get back, and they shall go to- 
morrow morning.” 

The King wept at the thought of losing his daughters, 
but the Queen was mistress, and he always agreed 
to what she said. 

The youngest Princess, whose name was Finette, 
161 


162 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


was in the next room and heard her mother’s 
plan. 

“I will go and tell my Godmother,” said she to herself. 

She filled a little basket with butter and eggs and 

sugar and hurried 
along the road, look- 
ing neither right 
nor left. 

She went quickly 
at first, but by and 
by her feet were 
scratched and her 
dress was torn, and 
she was so tired that 
she sat down on the 

She sat down on the grass and cried. grass and cr J ed 

Suddenly a little dappled pony, all saddled and 
bridled, trotted up to her and she caught the reins and 
said, 

“Dear little pony! I am so tired that I am nearly 
dead! If you will carry me to my Godmother, you 
shall have good oats and hay to eat, and plenty of 
straw to lie on.” 

The pony bent his knees and Finette sprang upon 
his back. 



THE CHESTNUT TREE 


163 


He ran as fast as a bird flies to the Grotto of the 
Fairy Merluche. She was the Godmother who knew 
Finette’s plight and had sent the pony for her. 

Finette made a pretty courtesy and said, 
“Good-day, my Godmother! I have brought you 



Finette made a pretty courtesy. 


some butter and eggs and sugar to make a cake after 
the fashion of our country.” 

“Thank you very much, Finette,” answered the 
Fairy, kissing her twice. “And now you may be my 
little waiting-maid. Take off the pearl band and 
comb my hair.” 

Finette did as she was bidden and when she had 
finished, the Fairy said, 

“I know why you are come, my child, and I will 


164 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


help you. Here is a ball of thread that will never 
break. When you leave the house, tie one end to the 
door handle and keep hold of the ball, and when you 
wish to return you need only follow the thread.” 

Finette kissed the Fairy, who gave her a bag filled 
with beautiful gold and silver dresses, and sent her 
home on the little pony. 

She slipped softly into the house and hid her bag 
under the pillow and went to bed. 

The next morning the Queen put on a short skirt, 
a woolen shawl and wooden shoes. Then she called 
her daughters. 

“I dreamed last night that we should visit my 
sister. She will entertain us elegantly and we shall 
feast and be merry as grigs.” 

“All right, my mother, if I may only walk I do not 
care where I go,” answered Finette. 

Her two sisters said the same thing, and all three 
followed the Queen. She led them so fast and so far 
that Finette feared the thread would give out. She 
did not know that it was Fairy thread and would 
never give out. However, at last the Queen stopped. 

“Lie down on this soft grass, my little lambs,” she 
said, “I will be the shepherdess who watches over her 
flock for fear the wolf may come and devour them.” 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


165 


She seated herself beside them, but as soon as they 
were fast asleep, she walked rapidly away feeling 
sure they could never get home. 

Finette was the first to awake. 

“If I were a wicked girl,” she said to herself, “I 



Finette feared the thread would give out. 


would leave my sisters here for they always treat 
me shamefully. But all the same I will not aban- 
don them.” 

She woke them. They both began to cry and prom- 
ised her their best dolls, a silver tea set and a box 
of candy if she would take them home. 

“I know that you will not give me anything,” said 
Finette, “but I will be a good sister.” 


166 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


They all followed the Magic Thread, and all arrived 
at the door almost as soon as their mother. 

They were just in time to hear the King say, 

‘‘My heart is sick to see you return alone.” 

“Nonsense,” answered the Queen, “our daughters 
were altogether too great a burden.” 

“If only you had brought back my Finette,” ex- 
claimed the King, “I do not care so much about 
Fleur d’Amour and Belle de Nuit, for they never 
loved me.” 

Before the Queen could answer, the Princesses 
rapped at the door. 

“Who is there?” called the King. 

“It is your three daughters,” was the answer. Then 
the Queen began to tremble. 

“Don’t open the door,” whispered she, “it must 
be goblins. It is impossible that our daughters are 
come back.” 

The King, who was as frightened as his wife, called 
again, 

“Go away! You are not our daughters.” 

Finette was clever and she said, 

“I am going to stoop down, Papa. Look through 
the hole the cat comes in and see if I am not Fin- 
ette.” 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


167 


The King looked and opened the door for he saw 
she was truly Finette. The Queen pretended to 
be delighted to see them; she said she had only re- 
turned to get their luncheon; she had forgotten it, 
and was just going to carry it back to them. 

That night when the sisters were together in the 
little garret where they slept, Finette said, 



“Go away you are not our daughters.” 


“You know you promised me a doll. Please give 
it to me now.” 

“Indeed, your Highness will get no doll,” cried 
Fleur d’Amour. “It is just because of you, our Father 
was not sorry to lose us.” 

Then both sisters caught up their spindles and 
beat her like flax. 


168 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


That night Finette had so many bruises that she 
could not sleep, and she heard the Queen say to the 
King, 

“Tomorrow morning I will take them so far off 
in another direction that we shall certainly never 
see them again.” 

After hearing that, Finette was not long in putting 
a fine chicken and two young rabbits into the basket 
and starting for her Godmother’s. 

She had gone only a little distance when the dappled 
pony trotted up. She mounted and quickly reached 
the grotto and presented the basket and told what 
the Queen meant to do. 

The Fairy listened and said, 

“Here is a box of ashes. Carry it in front of you 
and shake it as you go. Walk on the ashes, and when 
you return you will only need to follow your own 
footprints. But leave your sisters behind. If you 
take them back with you, I never wish to see you 
again.” 

Then the Fairy kissed Finette and put a little box 
of diamonds in her pocket. The pony was ready, 
and she rode home as she did before. 

At dawn the Queen called them. 

“Your father is not well. I dreamed last night 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


169 


that I should go to a certain place to gather healing 
herbs for him. That is why we must start early.” 

As they went, Finette walked slowly behind and 
strewed the Fairy ashes. 

They traveled hour after hour without stopping 
to breathe, and when night came they were so tired 
that they fell asleep, not caring that they were lying 
on the hard ground. 

As soon as the Queen was sure they were asleep, 
she hurried away, feeling certain that she was rid of 
them at last. 

In the morning Finette roused her sisters and said, 

“We are alone. Our mother is gone.” 

Fleur d ’Amour and Belle de Nuit wept and tore 
their hair. 

“Alas!” cried they, “what shall we do?” 

Finette was the best girl in the world. She was 
sorry for them and she said, 

“It is true that I know how to get back, but my 
Godmother told me that if I should show you the 
way, she would not see me any more.” 

When the two sisters heard this, they threw their 
arms around her. 

“Dear sister,” they said. “Try us once more, 
and you shall see how good we will be.” 


170 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


And kind-hearted Finette could not resist their 
coaxing, and they followed the magic ashes, and all 
three returned to the King and Queen who acted 
as if they were expecting them. But that night, Fin- 
ette heard them plotting again and she ran to her 
sisters crying, 

“We are lost! Our mother is going to leave us 
in a desert. I have offended my Godmother on ac- 
count of you, and there is no one to help us.” 

They looked at each other. Then Belle de Nuit said, 

“We need not trouble ourselves about old Mer- 
luche! She has not all the wit in the world; there 
is plenty left for other people. We will load our- 
selves with peas and scatter them along the road, 
and we shall see how easily we shall get home!” 

Fleur d’Amour agreed, and both sisters made sacks 
for the peas and filled their pockets besides, but they 
were not Fairy peas, they were just everyday peas. 
Finette said nothing, but she took her fine dresses 
and the box of diamonds. The three were ready 
when the Queen called them. 

“I have dreamed tonight,” said she, “that I should 
take you to a country where three handsome Princes 
are waiting to marry you. Come directly, for we 
must not wait.” 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


171 


The Queen went ahead and the Princesses fol- 
lowed, scattering the peas very contentedly, for 
they felt sure of getting back. This time she led 
them farther than ever before; and when she stole 
away from them one dark night, she was exhausted 
by the journey, but happy not to have such a large 
family on her hands. 

The tired Princesses slept until noon the next day. 
Finette was the first to discover the Queen’s absence. 
She called her sisters. 

“Our mother is gone! Let us follow her quickly.” 

“Be quiet, little Torment,” said Fleur d’Amour. 
“There is no need of such a stupid hurry.” 

Finette dared not answer, but when they tried 
to find their way there was not a single pea left. The 
pigeons had stolen them all! 

The Princesses were as hungry as the birds, and 
Fleur d’Amour said to Belle de Nuit, 

“My sister, have you anything that we can eat?” 

Belle de Nuit answered, “I have nothing,” and 
asked Finette, 

“My sister, have you anything that we can eat?” 

“Only a chestnut I have just found,” replied Finette. 

“Give it to me! Give it to me!” cried both sisters 
together. 


172 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


“One chestnut cannot satisfy three of us,” said 
Finette. “Let us plant it. It will grow into a tree 
and serve us all.” 

They planted it and watered it one by one every 
hour, always saying, 

“Grow, grow, beautiful tree!” 

When it was somewhat grown, Fleur d’Amour tried 
to climb it but it was not strong and it bent; Belle 
de Nuit tried but she was too heavy. Finette was 
lighter and staid longer. 

“Do you see anything?” asked Fleur d’Amour. 

“I see nothing,” answered Finette. 

“The tree is not high enough,” said Belle de Nuit, 
and they continued to water the tree and to say, 

“Grow, grow, beautiful tree!” 

One day Fleur d’ Armour said to Belle de Nuit, 

“I have found a bag that our sister has concealed 
from us. What do you suppose is in it?” 

“It may be sugar-plums,” said Belle de Nuit who 
loved sweets. “I shall look.” 

She looked and found the gold and silver dresses 
and the box of diamonds. 

“Indeed!” cried she. “Can there exist a greater 
little knave! Let us take these things for ourselves 
and put pebbles in their place.” 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


173 



“What do you suppose is in it?” 


174 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


Finette knew nothing about it, for she had climbed 
to the top of the chestnut tree and was calling to 
them, 

“I see — I see a mansion; so splendid — so splendid 
that I cannot describe it! It is all gold, and golden 
bells hang from the roof, and are swinging in the wind 
and shining like stars.” 

“It is not true!” cried Fleur d’Amour and Belle de 
Nuit. “It cannot be as fine as you say!” 

“I am not lying,” answered Finette. “Come up 
and see for yourselves. My eyes are dazzled.” 

They climbed the tree and looked. “Certainly,” 
said they, “we must go there. It is a Palace, and 
perhaps we shall find the handsome Princes our mother 
told us about.” 

They talked over the plan until Finette, who had 
been watching for hours, fell asleep. Then Fleur 
d’Amour whispered to Belle de Nuit, “Let us dress 
ourselves in our sister’s clothes.” 

It was no sooner said than done, and never were 
Princesses finer than they. 

When Finette awoke and saw them, she wept and 
said, 

“You have taken the dresses my Godmother gave 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


175 


“Of course we have,” said Fleur d’Amour, “we are 
the eldest and we ought to have them.” 

“But they are mine,” said Finette. “You have no 
right to wear them.” 

“If you say another word,” said both her sisters, 
“we will kill you and bury you, and nobody will know 
anything about it.” 

Poor Finette dared not provoke them; and they 
made her walk behind them and pass for their maid. 
The nearer they approached, the more marvellous 
was the mansion, and Fleur d’Amour said to Belle de 
Nuit, 

“Now we shall have a good time. We shall eat at 
the King’s table, for they will know we are real Prin- 
cesses, and as for Finette, she may wash dishes in the 
kitchen for she is made for a scullion. We will tell 
people she is a little cow-keeper from the country.” 

When they arrived at the mansion, the door was 
opened by a frightful old woman. Her skin was black, 
her nose flat and her mouth horrible. She was very 
tall and her waist was like a barrel. 

“O you poor things! Whoever brought you here?” 
she exclaimed. “Do you not know that this is an 
Ogre’s house? All three of you will not be enough for 
his breakfast. But I am more delicate than my hus- 


176 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


band, and I will only eat you one at a time, so you 
will have the comfort of living a little longer. 

When the Princesses heard this they turned and 
ran, hoping to escape. But one step of the Ogress 
was more than fifty of theirs, and she caught one by 



the hair and the two others by the back of their necks. 
At that minute the Ogre’s footsteps were heard and 
she promptly hid the three Princesses under a tub, 
for they were so white and tender and looked so de- 
licious that she was resolved to enjoy them by herself. 

There was a hole in the tub through which they 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


177 


could look out, and when they saw the Ogre they 
shivered. He had but one eye in the middle of his 
forehead, and instead of hair, his head was covered 
with bristles. He carried a basket out of which he 
took fifteen little chickens and swallowed them one 
by one. 

“See here,” he said suddenly, in a voice like thun- 
der, “I smell fresh meat. Give me some!” 

“Nonsense!” said the Ogress. “It is only the flock 
of sheep that just passed by.” 

“You don’t deceive me,” said the Ogre, “I smell 
fresh meat, and I’m going to find it.” 

“Search for it then,” said the Ogress. “You will 
not find any.” 

“If I do find any and you have hidden it from me,” 
said the Ogre, “I will cut off your head and keep it 
for a ball.” 

The Ogress was frightened and said, 

“ Don’t be angry, my sweet little Ogre, I will tell 
you the truth. Three young girls came along today 
and I caught them, but it will be a pity to eat them 
for they know how to do all sorts of things. I am 
getting old and need help. You can see our bread is 
not well baked, and our soup is not as good as it used 
to be, and you do not find me so beautiful since I 


178 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


have been wearing myself out with work. Promise 
me that you will not eat them now. You can do it 
later if you like.” 

But the Ogre would not promise. “Just let me eat 
one of them,” said he. 

However, after much discussion, he promised and 
the Ogress brought the three Princesses from under 
the tub. 

“What can you do?” he asked. 

“We know how to sew and spin and sweep and we 
can make bread and pies fit for a King,” answered 
Finette. 

“That’s good,” said the Ogre. “Now go straight 
to work, little cooks.” 

Then Fleur d’ Amour and Belle de Nuit hurried to 
knead the dough and Finette kindled the fire. 

“Is the oven hot enough?” asked the Ogre presently. 

“Not yet,” answered Finette. 

He waited a little longer and asked again, “Is the 
oven hot enough?” 

“Not yet,” answered Finette, “I am too little to 
put sufficient wood on the fire.” 

“I will do that, ’’said the Ogre and he took up an 
armful of tree trunks to throw them into the furnace, 
but he stooped too far over and fell in. The Ogress 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


179 



“That’s good,” said the Ogre, “Now go straight to work, little cooks.” 


180 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


shrieked and rushed to help him. “Take hold of my 
two hands,” cried she. And she tried to pull him out, 
but he pulled her in and both were burned. 

Then there were three happy Princesses! They ran 
from garret to cellar; they laughed and sang; they had 
sweetmeats and fruit and 
dolls in plenty. 

“But we must have 
friends,” said Fleur d’Am- 
our to Belle de Nuit. “Let 
us go to the next city where 
people will be glad to know 
Princesses.” 

Then they departed, or- 
dering Finette to have the 
house tidy when they re- 
turned. 

To have the house tidy when they Finette was heartbroken, 
returned. 

“If only I had not dis- 
obeyed my Godmother,” and she wept bitterly, but 
tears did not make things better. 

Her sisters came back laden with oranges and sugar- 
plums. 

“We have been to a lovely ball and we are invited 
for tomorrow,” said they. “And the King’s son 



THE CHESTNUT TREE 


181 


paid us the greatest attention. Now take off our 
shoes and brush our clothes, for that is all you are 
good for.” 

The next evening after they were gone, as Finette 
was sitting on the hearth, she saw something glistening 
between the stones. It was a little golden key, and 



The King’s son paid us the greatest attentions.” 


having nothing else to do she went through the house 
searching for a golden lock. There was none to be 
found, but just as she was throwing away the key, 
her eyes fell on a little cedar chest standing in a dark 
corner, and the key was the key of that chest! 

In it were beautiful things, but only enough of each 
for one person. After that Finette cried no more 


182 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


for she was happy, and the next evening as soon as 
her sisters were gone, she made herself lovelier than 
any young Princess in the world, and followed them 
to the ball. 

They did not recognize her, but joined with all the 
other guests in admiring her. She called herself 



It was a little golden key. 


Princess Cendron, and charmed every one by her 
gracious manner. 

She did not wait for the ball to end, but she hastened 
home, and when she met her sisters she looked as she 
always did. They could not say enough about the 
lovely Princess who had been at the ball. 

“She was not a shrimp like you, Finette. She was 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


183 


snow white and rose red. Her teeth were like pearls 
and her lips like coral. Oh! how beautiful she was 
and so amiable!” 

Finette murmured, “So was I. So was I.” 

“What is that you say?” asked the sisters. 

Finette said softly, “So was I.” 

“What is that you say?” asked the sisters again. 
But Finette only laughed. 

After this they were entertained every evening, 
and always Princess Cendron appeared in a new gown 
and wore new jewels. For the little chest was en- 
chanted and when one thing was taken from it, another 
more elegant took its place. And always the Prince 
danced with her and with no one else. And always 
Fleur d’ Amour and Belle de Nuit returned to tell 
how beautiful was the Princess, and always Finette 
murmured something they could not understand. 

Now it happened that one evening when she had 
danced later than usual and was fairly flying to reach 
home before her sisters, that she lost her pearl- 
embroidered slipper and could not stop to find it. 

But the Prince found it the next morning and knew 
whose it was. He kissed it and carried it away with 
him. From that time he became pale and melancholy 
and would not speak; he would not even notice the 


184 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


King or the Queen. The doctors watched him four 
days and four nights, and then said to the Queen, 
“Madame, it is heart disease and unless a remedy 
is discovered he will die. In other words, the Prince 
is in love — that is his only malady.” 



Lost her pearl-embroidered slipper. 


The Queen was puzzled. She presented the loveliest 
ladies in the land, but the Prince paid no attention. 

At last she said, “My dear son, you are killing us 
with sorrow. You love some one and you conceal her 
name. Tell us who she is and you shall marry her 
if she is only a shepherdess.” 


/ 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


185 


The Prince, encouraged by the Queen’s promise, 
drew the slipper from under his pillow, and showing 
it to her said, 

“Here is the cause of all my misery. It is this 



The Prince found it. 


precious slipper, and never will I marry anyone but 
the person who can wear it.” 

“Then be happy, my dear, for we will find her 
instantly,” said the Queen. 

Then the King sent out a herald inviting every 
young girl in the kingdom to come and try on the 


186 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


slipper. They came in crowds, but no one could 
wear it for it was a Fairy slipper, and would fit only 
Finette. 

One day Fleur d’ Amour and Belle de Nuit dressed 
themselves in their finest gowns. 

“Where are you going?” asked Finette. 

“We are going to the city to try on the slipper the 
Prince has found. If it fits one of us she will be the 
Queen.” 

“Suppose I go too,” said Finette. 

“Certainly you are a little idiot,” answered they, 
and went away. 

Finette decided to go too. She dressed herself 
magnificently. Her blue satin gown was covered with 
diamond stars. She wore diamond chains and bracelets 
and rings. She was in such a blaze of jewels that no 
one could look at her without blinking. And when 
she opened the door, the dappled pony was standing 
before it. He bent his knees and she sprang on his 
back saying, 

“You are welcome, little friend, and I thank my 
Godmother Merluche.” 

Fleur d’Amour and Belle de Nuit had not yet reached 
the city when they heard the silver tinkling of the 
pony’s bridle bells and they stopped a,nd looked. 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


187 


“Oh, Sister,” exclaimed Fleur d’Amour, “it is Finette 
and she is Princess Cendron.” 

As she rode by smiling, Belle de Nuit said, 
“Whoever can have given her that pony and those 
jewels! She is in luck and she will wear that slipper. 
It is a useless journey for us.” 



Received as if she was an Empress. 


While they were talking, Finette was being re- 
ceived in the Palace as if she were an Empress. 

The Page who knelt before her fitted on the lost 
slipper as well as the mate of it which she had brought 
with her. Then the Prince rose and kissed her hand; 


188 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


the Queen called her “Darling” and the King called 
her “Daughter.” 

Both the King and Queen wished the marriage to 
take place immediately. 

“No,” said Finette. “Let me first tell my story.” 



Finette met them sweetly. 


When she did tell it and they knew she was a Princess 
born, no words could express their joy. Then she 
told the King that it was he himself who had helped 
exile her father, and that his kingdom must be restored 
to him before she would marry the Prince. The King 
said he was perfectly willing to restore it, for he had a 
hundred kingdoms, and losing one was not a matter 
of any importance. 


THE CHESTNUT TREE 


189 


At that moment Fleur cl’ Amour and Belle de Nuit 
arrived and hearing the news they were afraid to 
appear. But Finette met them sweetly and presented 
them to the Queen, saying, 

“Madame, these are my sisters and I beg you to 
love them.” 

The wedding took place immediately and was the 
finest ever seen. 

Finette sent back the dappled pony with splendid 
presents to her Godmother, and she also sent magnif- 
icent gifts to her father and mother. 

As for Fleur d’Amour and Belle de Nuit, they were 
so ashamed and sorry that they said: 

“We will be like Finette. We will be forgiving and 
loving.” 
























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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




